LIBRARY 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

SANTA  BARBARA 


PRESENTED  BY 
MRS.    NELLIE  R.    PREUSS 


THE 

TKUE  GRASSES 

BY 

EDUARD  HACKEL 

TRANSLATED  FROM 

DIE  NATURLICHEN   PFLANZENFAMILIEN 

BY 

F.  LAMSON-SCKIBNER 

AND 

EFFIE  A.  SOUTHWOETH 

COPIOUSLY    ILLUSTRATED 


NEW  YORK 
HENRY  HOLT  AND  COMPANY 

1890 


Copyright,  1890, 

i!\' 

HENRY  HOLT  &  Co. 


ORUMMOND  &  NETT, 

Eleetrotypers, 

New  York. 


*T   (  V  LIBRARY 

*  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 

SANTA 


PREFACE  TO  THE  TRANSLATION. 


A  WORK  embracing  the  grass  family  as  a  whole,  in  all 
its  aspects,  enumerating  the  best  known  economic  species 
and  the  uses  which  they  serve,  discussing  their  structure 
and  morphology  and  their  arrangement  into  tribes  and 
genera  with  the  characters  of  these  pointed  out  in  a  man- 
ner enabling  one  to  classify  any  grass  which  may  come 
to  his  hand,  is  a  desideratum  in  our  literature  and  one 
which  has  long  been  felt  by  many.  Such  a  work  is  the 
contribution  made  by  Prof.  Eduard  Hackel,  of  St.  Poel- 
ten,  Austria,  to  that  great  German  publication  on  the 
Natural  Families  of  Plants  (Die  naturlichen  Pflamen- 
familieri)  edited  by  Drs.  Engler  and  Prantl.  Prof.  Hackel 
stands  without  a  peer  among  agrostologists  ;  his  contri- 
bution, therefore,  has  an  especial  value  and  may  be 
accepted  as  expressing  the  latest  views  of  the  highest 
authority. 

The  work  here  referred  to  contains  so  much  of  prac- 
tical as  well  as  of  scientific  importance  and  interest  that 
its  presentation  in  a  form  available  to  English  readers 
seemed  highly  desirable.  A  further  incentive  to  the 
preparation  of  an  English  translation  was  the  fact  that 
at  this  time  particular  interest  in  the  investigation  of 
grasses  is  being  taken  by  the  United  States  Government, 
and  on  all  sides  eager  demands  are  being  made  for 
information  relative  to  these  plants.  That  this  is  so 
is  not  remarkable  when  we  consider  the  unrivalled  eco- 
nomic importance  of  grasses,  furnishing  as  they  do  daily 
food  to  man  and  the  animals  upon  which  he  is  most 
dependent,  as  well  as  supplying  a  great  variety  of  articles 
used  in  manufacture,  the  arts,  and  medicine.  While  the 
present  work  may  not  add  to  the  interest  in  the  subject 
already  existing,  it  cannot  fail  to  afford  information  much 
desired. 

With  a  view  to  increasing  the  value  of  the  work  and 
rendering  it  more  serviceable  to  private  students  and 

iii 


iv  PREFACE  TO   TUB  TRANSLATION. 

general  readers,  an  introduction  wherein  is  illustrated 
the  manner  of  using  the  keys  of  analysis  in  determining 
genera  is  given,  and  a  full  glossary  and  index  are  added. 
It  is  hoped  also  that  the  translation  will  thus  be  made 
more  suitable  for  use  as  a  text-book  in  our  Agricultural 
Colleges,  for  which  purpose  the  treatment  of  the  struc- 
ture, morphology,  and  physiology  of  grasses,  given  in 
detail  and  fully  illustrated  in  Part  I,  renders  the  work 
especially  well  adapted. 

Those  familiar  with  the  German  will  notice  that  in 
translation  occasional  liberties  have  been  taken  with  the 
original  by  the  omission  of  unimportant  matter,  inser- 
tion of  head-lines,  etc.  Except  in  the  account  of  the 
Bambuse*,  all  matter  enclosed  in  brackets  has  been 
added  by  myself.  A  number  of  notes  and  observations 
have  been  added  by  Prof.  Hackel,  to  whom  the  manu- 
script was  submitted  for  revision  and  approval  before 
being  sent  to  the  printers. 

Following  the  number  of  each  genus  there  has  been 
inserted,  in  parenthesis,  its  number  in  Bentham  and 
Hooker's  Genera  Plantarum,  facilitating  reference  to 
that  work  and  at  the  same  time  showing  the  diversity 
between  the  systems  of  classification  adopted. 

With  few  exceptions  the  illustrations  are  from  electro- 
types of  the  original  woodcuts  obtained  from  the  Ger- 
man publisher,  Wilhelm  Eugelmann,  of  Leipzig.  The 
figures  illustrating  the  spikes  of  the  cereals  were  redrawn 
from  the  imprints  in  the  original  and  reduced  nearly  one 
half  by  photo-engraving.  Figures  3«  and  91"  are  addi- 
tions, while  figures  45a,  75o,  and  78  were  drawn  especially 
for  the  translation  and  appear  here  for  the  first  time. 

Thanks  are  due  Mr.  Charles  E.  Smith,  of  Phila- 
delphia, for  his  kind  assistance  with  the  proofs,  and 
Dr.  AY.  J.  Beal,  of  Lansing,  Michigan,  and  Mr.  C.  M. 
McCluug,  of  Knoxville,  Tennessee,  for  their  interest  in 
the  progress  of  the  work  and  material  aid  in  its  publica- 
tion. 

F.  LAMSON-SCRIBNEK. 

TMVKRSITY  OF  TKNNKSSKK. 
KNOXVILLE,  Feb.  1.  1890. 


INTRODUCTION. 


No  introduction  appears  to  be  necessary  further  than 
to  give  for  the  benefit  of  those  unfamiliar  with  botanical 
keys,  an  illustration  of  their  use.  For  this  purpose  let 
us  suppose  that  we  have  in  hand  a  specimen  of  Orchard- 
grass.  After  examining  it  carefully  and  noting  the  char- 
acters presented  by  the  inflorescence,  spikelets,  glumes, 
etc.,  we  turn  to  the  key  to  the  tribes  on  page  34,  and 
read  the  characters  under  "  A.  Spikelets  one-  rarely  two- 
flowered,"  etc.  In  our  specimen  the  spikelets  are  3-5- 
flowered,  so  we  pass  to  "B,"  on  the  next  page.  The 
characters  here — "spikelets  1-co  (many)  flowered,  .  .  . 
rachilla  articulated  above  the  empty  glumes,  .  .  .  with 
distinct  internodes  between  the  flowers"  (flowering 
glumes) — are  those  of  our  plant,  and  we  continue  by 
reading  the  characters  following  "  a,"  all  of  which  apply, 
and  then  go  on  reading  the  characters  following  "  a." 
As  those  of  our  specimen  are  here  included,  the  spike- 
lets  being  upon  distinct  pedicels  and  disposed  in  a  pani- 
cle, we  proceed  to  the  next  section  of  the  key ;  viz., 
"  I.  Spikelets  one-flowered."  As  those  in  our  specimen 
are  3-5-flowered,  we  pass  on  to  "  II.  Spikelets  2-oo  flow- 
ered." Our  Orchard-grass  falls  under  this  section,  and 
as  it  possesses  characters  (flowering  glumes  longer  than 
the  empty  ones,  and  with  a  short  straight  awn  from  the 
point)  which  exclude  it  from  the  next  division,  "1,"  we 
try  "  2,"  which  leads  us  to  tribe  XI,  Festucese,  further 
described  on  page  135.  Carefully  comparing  our  plant 
with  the  more  extended  characters  here  given,  we  note 
their  agreement  (or  disagreement,  as  would  be  the  case 
if  we  had  proceeded  wrongly  to  this  point). 

Being  satisfied  that  our  plant  must  belong  to  the 


vi  INTRODUCTION. 

Festucese,  we  now  try  to  determine  its  genus  by  the  key 
which  follows.  The  flowering  glumes  are  not  "  divided 
into  three-to-many  awn-like  lobes,"  so  we  pass  from  "A" 
to  "  B "  on  the  next  page,  where  it  says  "  Flowering 
glumes  entire  or  two-toothed,"  etc.  As  those  of  Orchard- 
grass  are  entire,  we  continue  with  the  next  division  of 
the  key,  "  a.  Rachilla  or  flowering  glumes  with  long 
hairs  which  envelop  the  latter."  There  are  no  such 
hairs  in  our  specimen,  so  we  pass  at  once  to  "  b.  Rachilla 
and  flowering  glume  naked  or  hairy,  hairs  much  shorter 
than  the  glumes."  These  characters  apply  to  our  plant, 
and  as  it  has  plumose  stigmas  projecting  from  the  sides 
of  the  flowering  glumes,  we  pass  from  "  a"  directly  to 
"  /?,"  the  division  having  stigmas  of  this  character. 

In  order  to  avoid  repetition,  we  will  simply  quote 
from  the  succeeding  divisions  of  the  key  that  which  it  is 
necessary  to  read  to  complete  the  determination,  placing 
in  italics  the  characters  excluding  from  any  one  of  them 
the  grass  we  are  analyzing.  All  reference  to  the  sub- 
divisions under  these  last  are  of  course  omitted. 

"I.  Spikelets  of  two  forms,"  etc. 
"II.  Spikelets  all  alike." 

"  1°.  Flowering  glumes  three-toothed,'"  etc. 
"  2°.  Flowering  glumes  of  some  other  structure." 
"*  Flowering    glumes   one  to  three-nerved," 

etc. 

"  **  Flowering  glumes  3-5-  to  many-nerved, 
with  two  or  more  of  the  upper  glumes 
empty,"  etc. 

"  ***  Flowering  glumes  five-  to  many-nerved ; 
each  containing  a  $  flower  or  the  upper 
with  only  a  $  flower,  or  empty."  (Ex- 
ceptions noted.) 

"  t  Leaves  broad,  lanceolate  or  ovate,  with 
fine  transverse  veins  between   the  longi- 
tudinal nerves" 
"  ft  Leaves  linear  or  lanceolate,  no  distinct 

transverse  veins." 
"  O  Keel  of  palea  winged,"  etc. 
"  O  O  Keel  of  palea  not  appendaged." 


INTRODUCTION.  vii 

"  A  Empty  glumes  three  to  six  at  the 

base  of  each  spikelet." 
"  A  A  Empty  glumes  two." 

"  X  Plants  strictly  dioecious,"  etc. 
"  XX  Plants  hermaphrodite,"  etc. 
"  n   Flowering  glumes  cordate 

at  the  base." 

"  D  D  Flowering  glumes  not 
cordate  at  the  base.  .  .  . 
AA.  etc."  (referring  to  the 
next  series  of  divisions  in 
the  key). 
"AA.  Spikelets  closely  imbricate,  arranged  in  a 

linear,  dense  false  spike" 
"BB.  Spikelets  densely  imbricate,  crowded  in  short 

spikes"  etc. 

"  CC.  Spikelets  in  small  fascicles  which  are  united 
in  a  glomerate  or  interrupted  panicle." 
"  aa.  Panicles  one-sided.     .     .  252.  Dactylis." 

Our  analysis  by  the  key  has  thus  brought  us  to  the 
genus  Dactylis,  No.  252,  and  on  page  161  we  find  given 
further  characters  belonging  to  it.  We  learn  here  also 
that  the  genus  contains  but  one  species,  Dactylis  glomer- 
ata  L.  or  Orchard-grass,  its  geographical  distribution, 
that  it  is  "a  first-class  fodder-grass,  especially  for  heavy, 
wet  soils,"  that  it  is  very  productive,  growing  rapidly 
after  cutting,  and  endures  shade.  There  is  also  a  figure, 
illustrating  the  inflorescence  and  a  single  spikelet,  on 
page  102. 

Orchard-grass  was  selected  to  illustrate  the  use  of 
the  keys  not  only  because  it  is  widely  distributed,  either 
naturally  or  in  cultivation  for  hay,  and  therefore  readity 
obtainable,  but  also  because  its  analysis  required  such 
an  extended  use  of  the  key.  There  are  very  many 
genera  requiring  much  less  reading  in  their  analysis  and 
possible  of  determination  far  more  quickly.  The  man- 
ner of  procedure  is  practically  the  same  in  every  case. 
While  the  keys  are  in  the  majority  of  cases  a  certain 
guide  in  determining  the  genus,  the  statement  made  on 


viii  INTRODUCTION. 

page  33  must  be  kept  in  mind  when  using  them  ;  for  in 
the  tribes  as  well  as  in  the  larger  genera  the  characters 
given  are  of  necessity  subject  to  many  exceptions. 

Under  each  genus  will  be  found  its  distinguishing 
characters  not  already  mentioned  in  the  keys,  the  num- 
ber of  species  it  embraces  and  their  geographical  dis- 
tribution, also  the  names  and  uses  of  those  species  of 
marked  economic  value.  The  somewhat  extended  ac- 
count given  of  the  Cereals  and  Bamboos,  due  to  their 
special  importance,  contains  much  of  general  interest. 


THE  TRUE   GRASSES. 

(GRAMINEJE.*) 


PART  I. 

STRUCTURE,   MORPHOLOGY,   AND  PHYSIOLOGY. 

Special  Characters  of  the  Order.— Flowers  hermaphrodite, 
rarely  unisexual,  perianth  none,  in  the  axils  of  enveloping  chaff-like 
scales  or  bracts  (flowering  glumes),  solitary  or  united  into  many- 
flowered  spikelets  ;  one  bract  (palea)  usually  two-keeled  and  opposite 
the  flowering  glume  ;  one  very  small  scale  (anterior  lodicule)  split  to 
the  base  and  usually  herbaceous,  above  the  flowering  glume;  rarely 
with  another  entire  scale  (posterior  lodicule)  above  the  palea;  oc- 
casionally with  the  palea  only,  or  even  without  that ;  very  rarely 
truly  terminal. 

Stamens  usually  in  a  whorl  of  three  (rarely  two)  members,  some- 
times in  two  alternating  whorls  ;  the  number  of  stamens  in  a  whorl 
is  very  rarely  either  much  increased,  or  reduced  by  abortion  to  one. 
Carpel  single,  standing  opposite  the  palea.  Ovary  one-celled, 
usually  with  two  lateral,  rarely  with  three  or  one,  styles.  Ovule 
solitary,  slightly  campylotropous,  without  a  funiculus  and  with  the 
micropyle  turned  downwards.  Fruit  usually  a  caryopsis  rich  in 
amylaceous  matter.  The  embryo,  covered  only  by  the  pericarp,  lies 
outside  of  the  albumen  at  the  front  and  base  of  it.  Embryo  usually 
small  and  straight  with  a  shield-shaped  cotyledon,  in  the  anterior 
cavity  or  furrow  of  which  lies  the  plumule,  having  several  rudimen- 
tary leaves,  and  the  radicle  with  its  surrounding  tissues. 

*  IMPORTANT  LITERATURE  :— R.  Brown,  General  Remarks,  etc.,  in 
'Vermischte  Schriften,  I.  p  107.— Palisot  de  Beauvois,  Essai  d'une  Nou- 
velle  Agrostographie,  Paris,  1812.— Kunth,  Revision  des  Grammees,  Paris, 
1829,  and  Agrostographia  give  Enum.  Graminum,  Stuttgart,  1833.— 
Roper,  Beitrdge  z.  Flora  Mecklenburgs,  2  parts,  Rostock,  1844.— Payer, 
Traite  d' Organogenic  de  la  Fleur,  p.  701,  Paris,  1857.—  Doll,  Flora  d. 
GrossJierz.  Baden,  and  in  Martius  et  Eichler,  Flora  Brasiliensis,  vol.  II. 
parts  II.  and  III.— Eichler,  Bluthendiagramme,  I.  199.— Hackel,  Uhter- 
sucfiungen  iiher  die  Lodiculce  der  Grciser,  in  Engler's  Bot.  Jahrb. ,  I. 
336.—  Bentham  in  Journ.  Linn.  Society,  XIX.  p.  14,  and  in  Bentham 
and  Hooker's  Genera  Plantarum,  III.  p.  1074. 


2  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

Herbs,  rarely  shrubs  or  trees,  with  closed-jointed  stems  (culms) 
and  alternate,  sheathing  leaves.  Spikelets  or  solitary  flowers  usually 
with  empty  chaff-like  bracts  (empty  glumes)  at  the  base,  arranged 
in  panicles  or  spikes. 

Organs  of  Vegetation. — THE  CULM. — Grasses  are  either 
monocarpic  or,  more  commonly,  perennial  by  means  of  a 
rhizome  which  is  formed  by  the  cateuulate  lowest  inter- 
nodes  of  the  consecutive  flowering  culms  and  their  leafy 
basal  branches.  Aerial,  woody,  perennial  stems,  occur 
only  among  the  Bambusece.  Perennial  grasses  may  usu- 
ally be  recognized  by  the  presence  of  sterile  shoots  which 
grow  from  the  lowest  joint  of  the  culm  or  proceed  from 
that  of  other  similar  shoots ;  they  often  break  through 
the  sheath  of  the  subtending  leaf  while  yet  buds  (extra- 
vaginal  shoots)  or,  more  rarely,  develop  within  the 
sheath  (iutravaginal).  In  the  latter  case  the  grass  forms 
dense  and  sometimes  large  but  always  isolated  tufts. 
For  the  formation  of  close  turf  (Grasnarbe),  such  as 
the  meadows  of  wooded  regions  present,  only  grasses 
with  extra  vaginal  shoots  are  adapted,  since  these  shoots, 
before  they  grow  upwards,  creep  for  a  longer  or  shorter 
distance  below  the  surface,  and  the  runners  thus  formed 
quickly  fill  up  all  the  available  interstices  of  the  soil  by 
their  ramifications.  All  grass  culms  branch  at  least 
from  the  lowest  nodes,  and  these  also  have  the  power 
of  sending  out  secondary  roots.  Even  aside  from  the 
richly  branched  Bambusece >  branches  from  the  upper  or 
from  all  nodes  occur  in  many  tropical  grasses,  but  in 
those  of  the  temperate  zone  of  the  Old  World  this  habit 
is  rare.  The  culm  is  rarely  filled  with  pith  (e.g.,  almost 
all  Andropogonere,  many  Panicece,  etc.)  ;  it  is  usually  hol- 
low, the  central  cavity  resulting  from  the  separation  of 
the  original  pith  cells  which  have  ceased  to  grow,  and 
the  remains  of  these  cells  line  the  walls  of  the  cavity. 

The  Nodes. — The  pith  cavity  is  always  closed  at 
the  nodes  which  are  the  larger  or  smaller  swellings 
at  the  limits  of  the  internodes.  The  difference  be- 
tween culm-nodes  and  sheath-nodes  is  constantly  over- 
looked, but  ought  to  be  carefully  noted.  The  swellings 
that  are  visible  externally  do  not  belong  to  the  culm, 


STRUCTURE,  MORPHOLOGY,  AND  PHYSIOLOGY. 


FIG.  1. — A,  Fragment  of  culm  of  wheat  with 
sheath-node,  somewhat  bent.  B,  Longitudi- 
nal section  of  the  same:  sfc,  sheath-node;  hb, 
point  of  insertion  of  the  sheath.  C,  Andro- 
pogon;  the  sheath  s  removed  on  the  left  side 
in  order  to  show  the  culm-node,  hk ;  sk, 
sheath-node. 


but  to  the  base  of  the  leaf -sheath ;  they  are  to  be 
found  in  all  grasses  (Molinia  excepted),  at  least  so 
long  as  the  internode 
above  has  not  com- 
pleted its  growth ;  but 
when  the  base  of  the 
internode,  the  portion 
which  remains  longest 
capable  of  growth,  is 
transformed  into  per- 
manent tissue,  one  of 
two  things  may  hap- 
pen :  the  tissue  of  the 
sheath  -  node  may  re- 
main turgescent  and 
capable  of  growth,  then 
no  swelling  is  formed 
at  the  base  of  the  culm- 
joint  ;  or  a  true  culm- 
node  may  be  developed  from  one  to  three  millimeters 
above  the  sheath-node,  assuming  all  the  properties  of 
the  sheath-node  (see  below),  and  at  the  same  time  the 
latter  shrivels  up.  This  last  is  the  case  with  all  Andro- 
pogonece  and  Panicece,  and  many  Bambusece,  as  well  as 
with  many  single  genera  of  other  tribes  (for  example, 
Stipa,  Eragrostis,  Pappophorum,  Arundo,  etc.).  The 
majority  of  Agrostidece,  Avenece,  Festucece,  and  Triticece 
have  only  sheath-nodes ;  and,  finally,  there  are  grasses 
without  any  distinct  nodes,  such  as  have  their  branches 
very  thickly  leaved,  from  the  fact  that  in  these  the 
sheaths  of  several  internodes  overlap  each  other,  as  in 
many  Bambusece. 

The  nodes  are  not,  as  is  often  supposed,  to  give 
strength  to  the  culm ;  they  are  composed  of  a  some- 
what thin-walled  parenchyma  whose  cells  are  strongly 
turgescent  and  through  which  run  delicate  fibro- vascular 
bundles  with  well-developed  bundles  of  collenchyma  on 
the  outside.  Their  function  consists  solely  in  the  erec- 
tion of  culms  that  have  become  bent  down.  The  paren- 
chyma of  the  node  is  geotropically  sensitive,  and  as 


4  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

soon  as  the  culm  is  placed  in  a  horizontal  or  oblique 
position  the  cells  of  the  node  on  the  side  turned  towards 
the  earth  begin  to  elongate,  and  consequently  the  lower 
side  becomes  longer,  while  the  upper  side  is  shortened 
and  often  wrinkled  from  the  pressure  of  the  opposite 
side  ;  this  continues  until  the  upper  internodes  have  re- 
sumed the  vertical  position.  Several  nodes,  however, 
may  share  in  this  process  at  the  same  time. 

Minute  Structure. — In  the  tissues  of  the  culm  a 
larger  or  smaller  ring  of  sclerenchyma  is  especially  prom- 
inent ;  it  lies  close  under  the  epidermis,  to  which  it  is  often 
joined  by  rib-like  sclerenchyma  bundles.  Similar  bundles 
accompany  the  fibre-vascular  bundles  both  without  and 
within,  or  even  form  a  ring  about  them  ;  the  great  firm- 
ness of  the  culms  is  due  to  the  mass  of  strongly  developed 
sclerenchyma.  In  pithless  culms  the  fibro-vascular 
bundles  are  usually  arranged  in  two  circles,  one  of 
which  is  on  the  inside  and  the  other  on  the  outside  of 
the  sclerenchyma  ring  ;  in  culms  containing  pith  other 
bundles  are  present,  either  scattered  through  the  pith  or 
arranged  in  indistinct  circles.  Each  bundle  contains 
two  or  three  large,  pitted  vessels  between  which  and 
towards  the  centre  is  an  air-passage  resulting  from  the 
rupture  of  an  old,  ringed  vessel,  as  is  shown  by  the  pres- 
ence, here  and  there,  of  isolated  rings.  For  other  por- 
tions of  the  bundle,  see  explanation  of  Fig.  2. 

The  fibro-vascular  bundles  run  parallel  in  the  inter- 
nodes  ;  the  superficial  ones  join  those  of  the  lower  inter- 
nodes  directly,  the  others  take  the  form  of  a  shallow 
arch  bending  towards  the  centre  (in  culms  with  pith), 
where  they  pass  through  several  internodes,  and  finally 
bend  outwards  to  join  the  superficial  ones.  In  the  nodes 
the  bundles  cross  and  interlace  by  means  of  small  and 
short  cross-bundles,  which  pass  from  the  axillary  shoots 
or  buds  towards  the  centre.  In  this  way  arise  the  dia- 
phragms or  plates  of  tissue  which  separate  the  pith 
cavities  of  the  iuternodes. 

THE  LEAF. — The  leaves  of  grasses  usually  alternate  in 
two  ranks  180°  apart,  and  those  near  the  ground  often 
form  tufts  or  even  fan-shaped  bunches  through  the  non- 


STRUCTURE,  MORPHOLOGY,  AND  PHYSIOLOGY.         5 

development  of  the  internodes.  Such  tufts  are  also  found 
upon  the  upper  nodes  and  runners  of  some  grasses,  for 
example  Sporobolus,  Cynodon,  JEluropus,  and  Chloris, 
whenever  a  well-developed  internode  is  followed  by  2-4, 


FIG.  2.— Cross-section  of  a  fibro-vascular  bundle  from  the  culm  of  Maize  (X  550). 
p  p.  Surrounding  parenchyma  (a,  outer  side;  i,  inner  side),  g  g,  Pitted  vessels;  /, 
air-passage  with  isolated  ring,  r,  from  a  former  ring-vessel;  v  v,  sieve-tubes. 
The  shaded  cells  in  the  circumference  are  those  of  the  sclerenchyma  threads ; 
those  between  g  and  g  are  very  narrow  pitted  vessels;  s,  a  spiral  vessel.  (After 
Sachs.) 

shortened,  nodeless  ones.  Every  branch  begins  with  a 
two-keeled,  rarely  (Cynodon)  two-cleft,  membranous 
prophyllum  with  its  back  towards  the  main  axis,  and  is 
followed  by  the  other  leaves  in  such  a  manner  that  their 
median  plane  crosses  with  that  of  the  prophyllum  and 
the  leaf  in  whose  axil  the  branch  originates.  The  sue- 


6  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

cessive  shoots  are  autidrom  [a  technical  term  of  German 
morphologists], — that  is,  if  the  first  leaf  of  one  falls  to  the 
left  of  the  subtending  or  supporting  leaf,  that  of  the  next 
falls  to  the  right,  etc., — so  that  the  first  leaves  of  all 
branches  fall  on  the  same  side  of  the  main  axis.  The 
same  holds  true,  of  course,  in  case  of  secondary  branches 
rising  from  the  axils  of  these  leaves  even  when  the  sub- 
tending leaves  are  undeveloped,  as  is  usually  the  case  in 
the  inflorescence. 

Every  foliage  leaf  consists  of  at  least  two  parts,  the 
sheath  and  the  blade.  A  true  petiole  is  inserted  be- 
tween these  only  in  a  few  broad-leaved,  tropical  grasses 
(Pharus,  Phyllorachis,  some  Ischcema,  many  Bambusece, 
etc.).  The  blade  is  always  absent  in  hypophyllia  and 
prophylla,  and  in  the  floral  leaves  (called  glumes  or 
bracts)  it  is  either  absent  or  transformed  into  a  narrow 
bristle-shaped  appendage,  the  awn,  which  is  sometimes 
twisted  or  bent.  The  sheath  surrounds  the  culm  like  a 
tube,  and  the  two  edges  usually  overlap  in  front,  the 
covering  edge  being  somewhat  raised.  In  the  successive 
interuodes  the  raised  edge  is  alternately  on  the  right  and 
left.  The  sheaths  of  numerous  grasses  (all  Sesleriece, 
many  Poce  [pratensis  L.,  trivialis  L.,  alpina  L.~\,  Bromus 
[inermis  Leyss.,  erectus  Huds.],  Briza,  Melica,  Dadylis, 
Glyceria  ftuitans  Brown,  etc.)  are,  on  the  contrary,  per- 
fectly closed,  but  the  young  and  still  included  inflo- 
rescences, by  forcing  their  way  upward  through  these 
narrow  channels,  usually  cause  them  to  split.  The 
sheath  matures  earlier  than  the  internode  above  its  in- 
sertion, and  consequently  its  stiffening  tissues,  viz.,  the 
sclerenchyma  bundles,  are  perfectly  formed  at  the  time 
when  the  enclosed  interuode  in  its  basal  portion  is  yet 
tender  and  without  firmness.  The  sheath  is,  in  con- 
sequence, a  very  important  protection  for  the  young  in- 
ternodes,  and  this  function  is  performed  even  by  the 
blade! ess  first  leaf  in  breaking  through  the  ground  with 
its  hard  point ;  if  the  latter  be  cut  away,  the  enclosed 
shoot  is  not  able  to  stand  upright  and  reach  the  surface. 

The  Ligule. — At  the  point  of  union  between  the  blade 
and  sheath  there  is  at  the  inside  an  erect  prolongation 


STRUCTURE,  MORPHOLOGY,  AND  PHYSIOLOGY. 


of  the  latter  (ligule)  which  is  usually  membranous,  but 
may  be  herbaceous  at  the  sides.  It  originates  from  an 
additional  growth  of  the  sheath  upwards  at  the  insertion 
of  the  blade.  If  the 
blade  is  narrower  than 
the  sheath,  then  at 
least  the  side  portions 
of  the  ligule  are  of  the 
same  character  as  the 
sheath,  and  are  fur- 
nished with  fibro-vas- 
cular  bundles,  while 
the  centre,  upon  which' 
the  blade  rests '  while 
in  the  bud,  remains 
membranous  (see  Fig. 
3,  B}.  If  the  blade  is 
the  same  breadth  as 
the  sheath,  then  the 
entire  ligule  is  mem- 
branous (Fig.  3,  A). 
In  the  flowering  glumes  of  many  grasses — Avena  and 
Bromus,  for  example — whose  blade  has  developed  into 
an  awn  (Fig.  3,  67),the  ligular  portion  is  much  developed, 
and  the  awn  is  then  said  to  be  on  the  back  or  dorsal  (see 
above).  Flowering  glumes  with  terminal  awns  have  no 
ligular  portion  ;  there  are  also  analogous  cases  in  ordi- 
nary leaves,  for  example  in  Panicum  Crus-galli  L.  In 
many  grasses,  especially  in  many  of  the  Chloridece,  the 
ligule  is  transformed  into  a  fine  hairy  fringe.  The  ligule 
always  embraces  the  culm  very  closely,  and  Schlechten- 
dahl  thought  that  its  office  was  to  keep  rain  or  water 
from  getting  between  the  sheath  and  culm. 

The  Leaf-blade. — The  blade  is  usually  elongated,  nar- 
row linear  or  linear-lanceolate,  rarely,  and  only  in  tropical 
species,  ovate-lanceolate,  elliptical,  cordate  or  sagittate 
(PJiyllorachis,  etc.).  In  the  bud  the  leaf  is  simply 
folded  (rarely  plicate  folded,  as  in  Panicum  plicatum  and 
related  species)  or  rolled  up  from  one  side,  the  other 
half  being  somewhat  broader,  and  the  sides  by  which 


FIG.  3.— Point  of  separation  of  the  sheath  (s) 
and  blade  (spr).  A,  in  Dactijlis  glomerata  L. 
B,  in  Ammophila  arundinacea  Host.  I,  Lig- 
ule. C.  Flowering  glume  of  Bromus  Alope- 
curus  Poir. 


8  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

the  rolling  up  commences  alternating  from  right  to  left 
in  the  successive  leaves. 

Leaf  Torsion. — The  adult  blade  often  exhibits  tor- 
sions ;  all  the  broader  leaves  of  Festuca,  Holcus,  Calama- 
grostis,  etc.,  are  twisted  to  the  left,  at  least  in  the  upper 
portions,  those  of  Secale,  Triticum,  etc.,  to  the  right,  and  of 
many  Avenece  in  both  directions,  being  twisted  in  one  direc- 
tion above  and  the  other  below.  The  leaves  of  many  wood- 
land grasses  (Milium  effusum  L.,  Braehypodium  silvati- 
cum  K,.  &  Sch.,  Festuca  silv.  Vill.,  Melica  altissima  L., 
Pharus  latifolius  L.),  also  of  some  narrow-leaved  species 
(Gynerium  argenteum  Nees.,  Ammophila  arundinacea 
Host.),  are  turned  180°  at  the  base,  so  that  the  upper 
and  under  sides  are  reversed.  In  this  'case  the  stomata 
are  only  upon  the  original  upper  side.  This  phenome- 
non is  probably  due  to  the  influence  of  light  (heliotrop- 
ism) ;  and  this  is  more  certainly  true  in  regard  to  the 
remarkable  sleep-movements  exhibited  by  the  leaves  of 
Olyra  Guyanensis  (Strephium  Guyan.  Brongn.).  In  the 
day-time  the  leaves  of  this  grass  stand  out  from  the  culm, 
and  the  upper  surfaces  are  turned  upwards,  but  at  night 
they  lie  close  to  the  culm  and  their  surfaces  are  at  an 
angle  of  90°  from  the  position  during  light.  This  torsion 
is  effected  by  means  of  a  very  short  petiole. 

Nervation. — The  nbro-vascular  bundles  (nerves)  of 
the  blade  either  enter  it  separately  and  then  run  paral- 
lel, or  a  number  at  first  unite  with  colorless  parenchyma 
to  form  a  strong  midrib  at  their  entrance  to  the  blade, 
later  the  single  bundles  separate  one  at  a  time  and  pass 
towards  the  edge  of  the  leaf.  This  arrangement  gives  an 
especial  firmness  to  the  base  of  the  leaf,  which  has  to 
bear  the  weight  of  the  entire  blade.  Maize,  Sorghum, 
etc.,  are  examples  of  this  arrangement,  which  is  espe- 
cially frequent  in  tropical  grasses.  The  nbro-vascular 
bundles,  at  least  the  primary  ones,  are  accompanied  on 
the  lower  or  on  both  sides  by  bundles  of  sclerenchyma 
which  are  frequently  united  into  rings  ;  this  happens 
especially  in  those  species  with  rush-like  leaves,  and 
gives  them  their  very  stiff  blades.  The  epidermis  con- 
tains very  irregular  cells  whose  walls  in  many  cases 


STRUCTURE,  MORPHOLOGY,  AND  PHYSIOLOGY.         9 

contain  much  silica.  The  bands  of  upper  epidermis 
that  lie  between  the  nerves  often  present  wedge-shaped 
cells  ("'  bulliform"  cells),  arranged  in  the  form  of  a  fan, 
whose  growth  and  expansion  causes  the  blade  to  open 
out;  in  those  leaves  which  are  folded  in  the  bud  these 
cells  are  only  to  be  found  on  each  side  of  the  midrib. 
In  grasses  that  do  not  have  such  fan-shaped  cell-groups 
the  blades  remain  always  folded  or  rolled  up,  or  at  most 
open  but  a  little,  and  consequently  appear  thread-  or 
rush-like  (many  species  of  Stipa,  Festuca,  and  Nardus). 
In  others,  especially  in  many  of  the  Steppe  grasses,  the 


FIG.  3a. — Transverse  section  of  the  primary  vein  of  Festuca  elatior,  var.  arundi- 
nacea.  Sc.  selerenchyma;  P,  colorless  parenchyma;  Cb,  bulliform  cells.  (After 
Hackel,  Monog.  Festuc.  Europ.,  Tab.  II.  Fig.  6.) 

blades  roll  up  whenever  these  cells  lose  their  turges- 
cence  by  excessive  evaporation,  but  become  flat  again, 
or  at  least  half  open,  as  soon  as  the  air  becomes  moist. 
This  rolling  up  of  the  blade  acts  as  a  protection  against 
excessive  evaporation ;  for  the  lower  side,  which  is  then 
alone  exposed  to  the  air,  has  especial  protective  arrange- 
ments against  transpiration  in  its  strong  cuticle,  seleren- 
chyma masses,  etc. 

The  stomata  of  grass  leaves  usually  stand  in  longi- 
tudinal rows  and  are  surrounded  by  four  cells  ;  two  large 
secondary  cells  project  beyond  and  cover  two  long  and 
narrow  guard-cells,  which  are  usually  much  narrower 
than  the  first. 


10  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

Inflorescence. — Distinction  must  be  made  between  the 
special  inflorescence,  the  spikelets — which  will  be  re- 
ferred to  farther  on — and  the  entire  inflorescence.  The 
latter  arises  by  monopodial  division  of  the  upper  portion 
of  the  culm,  and  the  branching  may  be  in  different 
degrees  :  when  the  primary  branches  form  single  spike- 
lets  and  the  lowest  glumes  of  these  are  apparently 
sessile  upon  the  main  axis,  the  inflorescence  is  a  spike 
(which  is  really  compound) ;  if  the  bases  of  these  pri- 
mary branches  are  naked,  forming  a  pedicel,  it  is  a  raceme; 
and  if  the  spikelets  are  only  upon  secondary  or  farther 
divided  branches,  a  panide.  The  inflorescence  is  yet 
more  complicated  in  many  Andropogonece,  Panicece,  and  in 
Maize,  where  the  branches  of  the  panicle  bear  racemes, 
whose  spikelets,  however,  are  borne  partly  on  primary 
and  partly  on  secondary  branchlets  of  these  racemes. 
The  primary  branches  of  the  whole  inflorescence  are 
most  frequently  alternately  two-ranked,  and  more  rarely 
(as  in  many  Andropogonece,  Panicece,  Sporobolus,  Eragros- 
tis,  etc.)  spirally  arranged  ;  in  the  latter  case  they  are 
often  in  whorls  of  from  2  to  4  members.  The  two-ranked 
arrangement  is  often  altered  by  the  more  rapid  growth 
of  one  side  of  the  main  axis  (the  side  which  is  turned 
more  away  from  the  earth  in  the  bud) ;  the  spikelets  ac- 
cordingly move  toward  one  side  and  the  inflorescence 
becomes  one-sided,  as  is  especially  noticeable  with  the 
panicles  of  Dactylis  and  Cynosurus,  and  the  spikes  of  the 
Chloridece. 

This  appearance  is  intensified  by  the  relations  of  the 
secondary  branches.  According  to  the  laws  of  anti- 
dromy  (see  page  6),  the  first  secondary  branches  all 
fall  upon  the  same  side  of  the  culm  ;  since  these  mostly 
arise  near  the  base  and  are  again  branched,  this  side  of 
the  main  axis  appears  to  be  much  richer  in  spikelets. 
Where  the  secondary  branches  also  arise  near  the  base 
and  are  as  strongly  developed  as  the  primary  ones,  the 
inflorescence  regains  a  symmetrical  appearance  (Poa 
prafeMM,  P.  trivialis).  If  the  branches  are  short  and  lie 
close  to  the  main  axis  and  all  the  internodes  of  the 
branches  remain  short,  the  result  is  a  cylindrical,  false 


STRUCTURE,  MORPHOLOGY,  AND  PHYSIOLOGY.       11 

spike  or  spike-like  panicle  (PJdeum,  Alopecurus,  etc.). 
lu  this  case  the  primary  branches  are  frequently  grown 
to  the  main  axis,  and  consequently  the  secondary 
branches  appear  to  be  arranged  spirally  on  this  (PMeum 
pratense  L.),  while  Ph.  Boehmeri  Wib.  has  free  primary 
branches. 

The  supporting  bracts  of  the  branches  of  the  inflo- 
rescence are  usually  entirely  aborted,  but  on  the  lowest 
branches  they  often  occur  as  rudiments,  rarely  as  well- 
formed  glume-like  scales  (Sesleria),  and  still  more  rarely 
(Anomochloa,  Phyllostachys)  they  are  well  developed  on 
all  the  primary  branches.  Frequently  the  leaf  of  the 
culm  or  branch  which  stands  next  to  the  inflorescence  is 
in  the  form  of  a  sheath  enclosing  the  spikelets  (Zea  ? , 
Coix,  Lygeum,  etc.).  The  false  panicles  of  some  Andro- 
pogonece  (Andropogon,  Nardus,  Fig.  19)  are  interspersed 
with  leaves,  and  arise  from  branches  supported  by  the 
upper  leaves  of  the  culm,  these  branches  in  turn  bearing 
leaves  and  branching  again. 

THE  SPIKELET. — The  spikelets  consist  of  an  axis  com- 
posed of  short  articulations,  two-ranked  chaffy  leaves 
(glumes)  (spiral  in  Streptochceta  only),  the  first  1  to  6  of 
which  (usually  2)  are  sterile  and  known  as  empty 
glumes  or  glumes  only,  while  the  following  one  to 
many  glumes  (flowering  glumes  or  lower  palese)  bear 
in  their  axils  a  very  short  branch  which  begins  with 
a  bractlet  called  palea  (or  superior  palea)  with  its 
back  turned  towards  the  axis,  and  ends  with  a  flower.* 
The  end  of  the  axis  of  the  spikelet  is  either  visible 
beyond  the  upper  flower  (Fig.  84)  or  its  growth  is  ar- 
rested early  ;  in  many  one-flowered  spikelets  it  is  not 
at  all  visible  even  in  the  earliest  stage  of  them,  and 
consequently  the  flower  is  situated  upon  the  end  of  the 
axis.  In  this  case  there  is  no  longer  a  true  distinction 
between  empty  and  flowering  glumes  and  paleas,  for  the 
entire  spikelet  represents  a  single  flower  with  many 


*  In  the  figures  the  entire  inflorescence  is  always  designated  by  A,  the 
spikelets  by  B,  the  empty  glumes  by  C,  the  flowering  glumes  by  D,  the 
palea  by  E.  Compare  Fig.  90. 


12 


THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 


bracts  (Anthoxanthum,  Oryza,  Andropogonece).  However, 
it  is  possible  to  demonstrate  a  perfect  series  of  stages  by 
which  one-flowered  spikelets  with  a  distinctly  lateral 
flower  pass  over  into  those  with  terminal  flowers ;  con- 
sequently a  palea  and  flowering  glume  can  be  distin- 
guished in  the  latter  by  analogy. 

The  uppermost  glumes  of  a  spikelet  are  not  infre- 
quently empty,  and  in  this  case  they  are  usually  dwarfed 


IT 

FIG.  4.— I,  Diagram  of  a  many-flowered  spikelet  of  Avena,  Poa,  Triticum;  A,  axis 
(rachilla).  II,  Diagram  of  a  flower  of  Bnmbusa  with  flowering  glume  and  palea; 
I,,  posterior  lorlicule.  III-VII,  Diagrams  of  an  entire  spikelet:  h,  /i, ,  etc.,  empty 
Klumes;  d,  flowering  glumes;  v,  palea;  /,  anterior  lodicules.  III.  Strepiochceta; 
A,  B-F,  small  outer  bracts;  a-/,  large  inner  bracts,  the  latter  distinctly  in  two 
whorls.  IV,  Andropogon;  V,  Coleanthus;  VI,  Oryza;  VII,  Anthoxanthum. 

or  anomalous  (Melica,  Fig.  80).  The  empty  glumes  are 
lacking  (Cokanthus),  or  scarcely  visible  as  rudiments 
(Leersia),  in  only  a  few  genera  ;  there  is  rarely  but  one, 
most  frequently  there  are  two,  and  more  rarely  more 
than  two,  present.  In  the  latter  case  those  following  the 
second  are  described  by  most  authors  as  sterile  flowers 
(e.g.,  in  Panicum,  Andropogonew,  and  many  Bambusece), 
a  plan  which  we  shall  not  adopt  in  our  descriptions.  It 
is  true  that  in  closely  related  species  (of  Panicum,  for 


STRUCTURE,  MORPHOLOGY,  AND  PHYSIOLOGY.       13 

example)  the  third  glume  of  some  is  empty  and  there- 
fore a  sterile  glume,  while  in  others  it  bears  a  $  flower 
or  merely  a  sterile  branch  with  the  palea,  in  which  case  it 
becomes  a  flowering  glume  ;  but  this  by  no  means  makes 
all  Panicums  two-flowered,  any  more  than  we  would 
call  Leucojum  vernum  a  three-flowered  plant  because 
both  of  its  empty  bracts  bear  flowers  in  other  species 
of  the  same  genus.  In  most  and  the  best  works  (e.g., 
Kunth's,  but  not  Bentham's)  this  third  glume  is  called  a 
neuter  flower  ("flos  neuter"),  a  term  whose  meaning 
should  be  always  present  to  those  desiring  to  use  these 
works.  The  empty  glumes  are  often  very  like  the 
flowering,  but  are  seldom  awned.  The  flowering  glumes 
assume  many  forms  and  are  frequently  awned ;  they 
almost  always  have  a  middle  nerve.  At  their  point  of 
insertion  they  frequently  extend  downwards  a  little  on 
the  axis  of  the  spikelet ;  this  portion  which  is  grown  to 
the  axis  is  separated  from  the  free  portion  by  a  more  or 
less  distinct  furrow  and  is  called  the  callus ;  it  occurs 
also  upon  many  empty  glumes  (Heteropogon  contortus  R. 
&  Sch.),  is  frequently  hairy,  and  in  the  fruiting  glumes 
serves  to  fasten  them  to  other  objects.  (Compare  Stipa, 
Fig.  44,  cal.)  The  palea,  which  with  its  enclosed  flower 
stands  opposite  to  the  flowering  glume,  does  not  belong  to 
the  main  axis  of  the  spikelet,  but  to  the  branch  which  bears 
the  flower.  That  this  relation  of  parts  may  be  gradually 
obliterated  in  the  one-flowered  grasses,  and  that  the 
palea  may  be  moved  back  upon  the  main  axis,  has  been 
explained  above.  As  long  as  an  axis  or  a  rudiment  of 
one,  at  least  in  its  earliest  stage,  is  visible  beyond  the 
palea,  this  latter  possesses  (like  the  prophylla  of  the 
culm-branches)  two  keels,  or  at  least  two  lateral  nerves, 
without  a  midrib ;  only  when  all  trace  of  the  axis  is 
absent  does  the  palea  become  from  one-  to  many-nerved 
(with  a  midrib)  or  nerveless.  It  is  almost  always  of  a 
more  delicate  texture  than  the  flowering  glume,  its  edges 
are  usually  turned  in,  and  it  has  a  furrow  instead  of  a 
midrib.  The  prophylluni  of  the  culm-branches  has  no 
blade,  and  the  palea  resembles  it  in  being  almost  al- 
ways (excepting  Amphipogori)  awnless ;  and  as  the  former 


14  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

is  sometimes  split  in  two  parts  ( Cynodori),  so  the  palea  is 
often  split  at  the  time  the  fruit  is  mature  (many  Sporo- 
bolus  and  Triticum  monococcum  L).  This  state  has  been 
understood  by  some  authors  as  originally  bifoliate,  and 
false  genera  have  been  established  upon  it  by  some 
(Diachyrium  Griseb,  etc.).  The  palea  is  completely 
aborted  in  many  Andropogonece  and  species  of  Agrostis. 

Opposite  the  palea,  and  therefore  above  the  flower- 
ing glume,  are,  in  most  grasses,  visible  two  small  delicate 
scales  (lodicules)  ;  they  stand  close  together,  their  front 
edges  touching,  their  bases  somewhat  grown  together  and 
swollen  with  sap  at  the  time  of  flowering  (cf.  Fig.  28,  f; 
Fig.  63,  G).  They  are  usually  considered  the  two  anterior 
members  of  a  rudimentary  perianth,  whose  posterior 
member  (the  posterior  lodicule)  is  developed  in  Stipa 
and  many  Bambusece.  The  author  has  endeavored  to 
prove  that  the  anterior  scales  represent  the  halves  of  a 
leaf  which  sometimes  (Melica,  Fig.  80,  jP)  remains  un- 
divided, and  can  be  regarded  as  a  second,  and  the 
posterior  scale  as  a  third,  palea.*  The  anomalous  con- 
dition of  these  paleas  (in  respect  to  the  ordinary  palea) 
is  explained  by  their  biological  properties.  The  rapid 
swelling  of  the  bases  at  least,  causes  the  separation  of 
the  flowering  glume  and  palea,  and  consequently  the 
opening  of  the  flower.  In  grasses  where  they  swell  only 
a  little  the  spikelets  open  but  slightly,  and  where  the 
lodicules  are  membranous  or  entirely  lacking  the 
spikelets  remain  entirely  closed  at  the  sides,  and  the 
reproductive  organs  protrude  only  at  the  apex  (com- 
pare Anthoxantkum,  Alopecurtis,  etc.).  The  absence  of 
the  lodicules  is  not  necessarily  a  case  of  abortion ;  for  if 
they  are  bractlets,  a  decrease  in  their  number  (as  in  the 
Juncacere)  is  not  very  remarkable.  Their  large  number 
(8  or  more)  and  apparent  spiral  arrangement  is  striking 
in  Ochlandra ;  here  their  relations  have,  however,  still 
to  be  studied  in  living  material. 

All  the  leaf  forms  that  have  so  far  been  mentioned 
in  the  spikelet  do  not  really  belong  to  the  flower ; 

*  For  details  see  Engler's  bot.  Jahrbiicher,  I.  Bd.,  S.  33«. 


STRUCTURE,  MORPHOLOGY,  AND  PHYSIOLOGY.       15 

they  all  lie  (Streptochceta  and  perhaps  Ochlandra  ex- 
cepted)  with  their  median  lines  in  one  and  the  same 
plane,  and,  as  in  the  branches  of  the  culm,  this 
crosses  that  of  the  subtending  bract,  which  in  this 
case  must  be  supposed.  Where  the  entire  inflorescence 
ends  in  an  apical  spikelet  its  glumes  are  naturally 
arranged  like  the  supposed  subtending  bract,  and  there- 
fore cross  those  of  the  lateral  spikelets  (e.g.,  Triticum 
sativum  Lam.).  Several  genera  related  to  Lolium  form 
an  exception  to  this ;  in  these  genera  the  median  plane  of 
all  the  glumes  coincides  with  that  of  the  subtending 
bract.  Hordeum  and  Elymus  form  another,  but  only  an 
apparent  exception  ;  in  these  not  only  do  the  empty 
glumes  of  the  2-3  lateral  spikelets  converge  in  front,  but 
their  median  plane  crosses  that  of  the  flowering  glume  at 
different  angles  (30°-90°).  All  these  variations  depend 
upon  mechanical  causes,  and  are  only  to  allow  the 
glumes  of  the  double  or  triple  spikelets  to  fit  into  a  given 
space,  since  the  normal  arrangement  is  present  in  the 
solitary  terminal  spikelets  of  some  species  of  Hordeum 
(H.  crinitum  Desf.,  etc.)  and  all  species  of  Elymus. 

The  succession  of  the  flowering  of  the  spikelets  should 
be  especially  noticed,  since  in  panicles  it  usually  occurs 
about  in  that  order  in  which  the  spikelets  emerge  from 
the  sheath  of  the  upper  leaf  ;  therefore  the  terminal 
spikelets  of  the  panicle  and  its  branches  flower  first,  and 
from  there  downwards.  In  spikes  the  spikelets  situated 
just  above  the  middle  usually  precede  the  others,  as  they 
are  best  developed.  In  single  spikelets,  flowering  passes 
from  below  upwards  ;  in  Panicew  and  Andropogonece  only, 
if  a  terminal  $  stands  below  the  apparently  terminal  $ 
one,  it  blooms  later  than  the  latter. 

Organs  of  Reproduction. — THE  STAMENS. — The  androe- 
cium  consists  of  from  one  to  two  whorls,  each  com- 
posed of  from  two  to  three  members ;  the  stamens  are 
rarely  (Pariana,  Luziola,  Oddandra)  more  than  six  (to 
forty),  and  in  this  case  apparently  spirally  arranged. 
The  first  stamen  of  the  outer,  and  usually  the  only, 
whorl  always  stands  above  the  flowering  glume;  this 
is  distinguished  by  the  fact  that  it  is  earlier  and 


16  TUB  TRUE  GRASSES. 

more  strongly  developed  than  the  other  two,  which 
stand  in  front  of  the  keels  of  the  palese.  On  the 
other  hand,  this  very  stamen  may  be  aborted  and 
only  the  two  posterior  ones  remain  (Diarrhena,  Ortho- 
dado)-,  where  the  entire  whorl  is  reduced  to  a  single 
stamen  (Uniola,  Cinna,  many  species  of  Festuca  and 
Andropogon,  etc.)  this  is  generally  the  anterior  one, 
but  in  Elytrophorus  it  is  posterior.  We  find  a  typical 
two-membered  whorl  in  Anthoxanthitm,  Hierochloa  $  ,  and 
Crypsis ;  here  the  stamens  lie  in  the  mid-line  of  the 
glumes,  but  in  Coleanthus  they  alternate  with  the  glumes. 
Two  alternating  whorls  occur  in  the  majority  of  the 
BanibusecK  and  in  many  Oryzece.  Generally  both  whorls 
have  three  members,  but  in  Tetrarrhena  and  Microlce.ua 
they  have  but  two.  Since  the  following  (single)  carpel 
always  stands  above  the  flowering  glume  no  matter 
whether  the  stamens  are  in  one  whorl  or  two,  when  only 
one  is  present  the  inner  must  be  supposed. 

The  stamens  always  have  slender,  distinct,  rarely 
(Streptochceta,  Gigantochloa,  Oxy  tenant-herd)  monadelphous 
filaments  that  are  composed  of  thin-walled  cells.  In  the 
closed  flower  they  are  very  short,  but  at  the  time  of 
flowering  they  elongate  by  the  very  rapid  extension  of 
the  cells.  They  remain  straight  for  a  time  (Phleum),  or 
suddenly  become  tipped  over  in  such  a  way  ( Triticutri) 
that  the  main  mass  of  the  pollen  is  emptied. 

The  elongated,  usually  narrow-linear  anthers  have 
a  very  fine  connective  and  are  versatile ;  that  is,  the 
filament  is  attached  below  the  middle  (£  or  ^)  by  a  taper- 
ing end.  This  circumstance  assists  in  the  scattering  of 
the  pollen  by  the  wind.  Rarely  the  filaments  are 
attached  at  the  base  of  the  anthers  (Coleanthits).  The 
pollen-sac  usually  opens  by  a  longitudinal  split  which 
proceeds  from  above  downwards,  more  rarely  (Andro- 
pogonecK)  by  a  hole  at  the  apex,  which  is  often  continued 
into  a  split.  The  pollen  is  very  finely  granular, 
spherical,  and  perfectly  smooth.  It  is  discharged  in  very 
abundant  masses,  and  scattered  by  the  wind  (except  in 
the  cleistogamic  species). 
I  THE  PISTIL. — The  pistil 'arises  from  a  single  carpel 


STRUCTURE,  MORPHOLOGY,  AND  PHYSIOLOGY.       17 

which  always  stands  in  the  median  plane  of  the  spikelet 
towards  the  front.  It  is  composed  of  an  ovary  with  one 
ovule  and  1-3  styles,  each  with  one  stigma ;  the  stigmas 
may  also  arise  from  a  single  style  or  directly  from  the 
ovary.  If  but  one  style  with  one  stigma  is  present,  it  cor- 
responds to  the  midrib  of  the  carpel,  and  is  to  be  regarded 
as  the  blade,  and  the  ovary  as  the  sheath  (Nardus).  Many 
times  an  apparently  simple  style  arises  from  the  union 
of  two  (Zea,  Euchlcena,  and  many  species  of  Pennisetuni). 
If  there  are,  as  is  by  far  the  most  frequent,  two  styles  or 
two  sessile  stigmas,  they  are  lateral,  never  posterior,  being 
either  on  the  sides  or  the  front  of  the  carpel.  Both  may 
be  regarded  as  the  developed  side  portions  of  one  lamina 
(or  blade),  the  central  part  of  which  is  at  the  same  time 
suppressed  ;  they  are  therefore  analogous  to  the  anterior 
lodicules.  If  the  middle  portion  is  developed,  we  have 
the  three  (free  or  partly  grown  together)  styles  of  many 
Bambusece  and  Streptochceta,  where  the  third  style  con- 
sequently lies  in  front.  In  many  pistils  (Briza  media] 
there  is  frequently  a  rudiment  of  a  posterior  style  (often 
provided  with  a  stigma)  which  may  be  explained  as  a 
commissural  form  like  the  ligule  of  Mdica  uniftora  Ketz., 
which  is  opposite  the  blade  and  rises  from  the  united 
edges  of  the  sheath.  The  stigmas,  easily  recognizable 
by  their  papillate  cells,  are  rarely  simple  (barbellate) 
(Figs.  73,  74),  but  are  usually  spirally  branched ;  in  the 
latter  case  the  branches  either  come  off  in  all  direc- 
tions— aspergilliform  (Figs.  15,  18), — or  only  from  two 
sides — plumose  (Figs.  80,  89,  95).  From  these  branches 
rise  smaller  papillae.  The  entire  system  of  branches 
has  of  course  a  large  surface,  and  is  especially  arranged 
to  catch  pollen  carried  by  the  wind. 

Pollination. — As  has  been  stated,  grasses  are  fertil- 
ized by  the  wind.  Monoecious  and  dioecious  species  are 
not  numerous;  but  not  a  few  are  polygamous  (many 
Andropogonece  and  Panicece),  and  in  these  the  $  flower  of 
a  spikelet  always  blooms  later  than  the  hermaphrodite, 
so  that  its  pollen  effects  cross-fertilization  upon  the 
stigmas  of  other  spikelets  or  other  individuals.  There 
are  also  many  arrangements  for  cross-fertilization 


18  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

among  the  entirely  hermaphrodite  species.  Many 
genera  (Alopecurus,  Anthoxanthum,  Pennisetum,  Spar- 
tina)  are  strongly  proterogyuous ;  in  most  cases,  how- 
ever, the  anthers  protrude  earlier  and  discharge  the 
greater  part  of  their  pollen,  especially  by  turning  over 
suddenly,  before  the  stigmas  are  visible.  When  these 
emerge  at  the  sides  of  dependent  or  nodding  spikelets 
they  are  directed  upwards,  and  consequently  only  the 
pollen  from  flowers  situated  higher  up  can  come  in  con- 
tact with  them.  More  rarely  the  stigmas  project  from 
the  apex  of  the  spikelet,  and  then  mainly  in  the  proter- 
ogynous  and  monoecious  species.  In  some  hermaphrodite 
flowers  cross-fertilization  is  so  much  the  rule  that  they 
have  lost  the  power  of  effectual  self-fertilization,  as  in 
Rye.  In  the  majority  of  cases,  however,  both  kinds  of 
fertilization  seem  at  least  to  be  possible  ;  for  example,  the 
species  of  Wheat  are  usually  self-fertilized,  but  may  also 
be  adapted  to  cross-fertilization,  since  their  glumes  are 
open  above,  the  stigmas  project  laterally,  and  the  an- 
thers empty  only  about  £  of  their  pollen  in  their  own 
flower  and  the  rest  into  the  air.  Cross-fertilization  is 
much  more  rare  and  difficult  in  Barley,  and  in  certain 
races  like  the  six-ranked,  the  short-spiked  two-ranked, 
and  the  peacock  Barley,  the  flowers,  especially  in  our 
climate,  never  open,  and  consequently  cross-fertilization 
is  made  impossible.  Again,  Leersia  oryzoides  Swz.  and 
Amphicarpum  Purshii  Kunth,  are  strongly  cleistogamic  ; 
in  both  there  are  two  kinds  of  inflorescence  ;  the  con- 
spicuous terminal  panicle  of  the  culm  is  perfectly  sterile, 
but  the  lateral  inflorescence  of  Leersia,  which  remains 
covered  by  the  sheath,  is  abundantly  fertile ;  in  Amphi- 
carpum the  fertile  spikes  are  upon  short  scapes  close  to 
the  ground,  and  seem  to  be  fertilized  and  mature  under 
ground.  Diplachne  serotina  Link.,  Danthonia  spicata 
Beauv.,  Stipa  juncea  L.,  etc.,  are  also  cleistogamic  species. 
T/te  Ovule. — The  ovule  is  grown  to  the  ventral  suture 
of  the  carpel  without  a  funiculus.  The  point  of  union  mav 
be  confined  to  a  narrow  place  at  the  base,  or  may  vary  so 
far  as  to  reach  to  the  other  end  of  the  ovule  (Fig.  6,  -A). 
The  ovule  itself  is  hemitropous  (slightly  campylotropous), 


STRUCTURE,  MORPHOLOGY,  AND  PHYSIOLOGY.       19 

with  its  micropyle  turned  downward  and  outward.  It 
possesses  two  integuments  (Fig.  6,  A,  ilt  tf),  the  outer  one 
of  which  has  very  delicate  walls  and  forms  a  conductive 
tissue  for  the  pollen-tube  upon  the  anterior  side.  It 
disintegrates  soon  after  fertilization. 

The  embryo-sac  (Fig.  6,  A,  es)  grows  rapidly  after  fer- 
tilization at  the  expense  of  the  tissues  of  the  endosperm, 
so  as  to  leave  only  1-2  layers.  At  the  same  time  it  be- 
comes filled  with  considerable  albumen  in  whose  cells, 
the  outer  layer  excepted,  is  deposited  an  abundant  sup- 
ply of  starch.  The  ovule  meantime  grows  rapidly  in 
length  and  later  also  in  breadth,  and  finally  fills  the 
cavity  of  the  ovary  so  completely  that  any  further 
growth  causes  it  to  grow  to  the  walls,  and  this  fails  to 
happen  only  in  a  few  cases.  The  embryo  is  at  first  a 
many-celled  club-shaped  body  whose  vegetative  point  is 
situated  in  a  lateral  depression  ;  the  portion  of  the  em- 
bryo above  this  depression  becomes  the  cotyledon,  which 
farther  expands,  becoming  shield-shaped.  Then  the 
borders  of  the  depression  in  which  the  vegetative  point  is 
situated  rise  up  in  the  form  of  a  collar, — the  beginning  of 
the  first  sheath-like  leaf,  hypophyllum,  and  opposite 
to  it,  later  on,  is  developed  the  first  foliage  leaf.  The 
initials  of  the  main  root  lie  deep  within  the  lower  half  of 
the  young  embryo,  so  that  the  surrounding  tissue  grows 
with  the  root  for  some  time  until  the  latter  separates 
itself  from  the  tissue  around  it  by  forming  a  cleft.  But 
the  entire  radicle  is  still  imbedded  in  it,  and  not  earlier 
than  the  seed  germinates  the  root  first  breaks  through 
this  tissue,  called  the  coleorhiza  or  root-sheath  (compare 
c  in  Fig.  6,  L,  N).  Upon  the  sides  of  the  main  radicle 
2-4  secondary  radicles  are  occasionally  situated  (ivt ,  ivy 
in  Fig.  6,  F],  and  on  the  other  end  of  the  axis  the  begin- 
nings of  the  foliage  leaves  increase  in  the  bud  to  3  or  4, 
so  that  the  germ  of  the  grass  at  the  maturity  of  the  seed 
has  reached  a  high  degree  of  development. 

Fruit  and  Seed. — The  fruit  of  most  grasses  is  a  cary- 
opsis  the  thin  pericarp  of  which  is  grown  fast  to  the 
seed.  The  pericarp  here  answers  the  purpose  of  the 
testa,  which  is  only  very  feebly  developed ;  it  gener- 


20  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

ally  consists  merely  of  a  few  cell  layers  ;  one,  a  very 
thick- walled  epidermis,  and  several  of  tolerably  thin- 
walled  parenchyma  with  delicate  nbro-vascular  bundles, 
and  an  inner  epidermis  that  is  frequently  indistinct.  It 
contains  no  amylaceous  material,  and  when  the  grain  is 
ground  it,  together  with  the  adjacent  layer  of  albumen,  is 
removed  as  bran.  In  many  grasses  the  pericarp  unites 
more  or  less  with  the  bracts,  growing  especially  to  the 
palea,  seldom  to  the  flowering  glume.  Those  caryopses 
adherent  to  the  bracts  (e.g.,  most  barleys)  must  not  be 
confused  with  those  in  which  the  bracts  are  close  around 
the  fruit  but  not  grown  to  it  (for  example,  in  Spelt,  Tri- 
ticum  spelta  L.,  whose  fruit  is  often  spoken  of  as  ad- 
herent). After  long  soaking  in  water  the  bract  may 
with  care  be  removed  even  from  the  adherent  fruit. 

The  following  fruit  forms  are  more  rare  in  grasses : 
Utricle — the  pericarp  thin,  dehiscent,  free  from  and  sur- 
rounding the  seed ;  for  example,  Sporobolus  (Fig.  51,  &, , 
&a),  Eleusine  (Fig.  71,  Jc),  Crypsis,  and  Heleochloa ;  Nut- 
fruits  in  some  Bambusece  (Dendrocalamus,  Pseudosta- 
chyum,  Schizostachyum,  etc.)  and  in  Zizaniopsis ;  Berries, 
often  as  large  as  apples,  as  in  the  Banibusew,  Melocala- 
mus,  Melocanna,  and  Ochlandra.  The  berries  of  Melo- 
canna  bambusoides  are  often  from  8  to  13  centimeters  in 
diameter  and  are  edible. 

Upon  the  caryopsis  is  a  place  where  the  embrvo  lies 

«JL  J^       covered  only  by  the  pericarp 

•  Hi        •Hi      an(^  plainl.Y  visible  on  the  out- 
•  I        1  II      side  (Fig.  6,  B}.     This  place  is 
\jf        •iB      upon  the  front  side  (that  is,  the 
w  ^HJfr       side  facing  the  floral  glume)  of 

A  the  base  of  the  fruit.  Opposite 
to  it,  or  on  the  posterior  side, 
the  fruit  bears  a  more  or  less 
clear,  sometimes  puuctiforni 
and  sometimes  elongated  or 

linear  mark,  the  hilum,  the  place  where  the  seed  was 
fastened  to  the  wall  of  the  ovary  (Fig.  5). 

Since  the  form  of  the  hilum  is  constant  in  every 
genus,  and  also  sometimes  in  whole  tribes,  it  is  very  im- 


STRUCTURE,  MORPHOLOGY,  AND  PHYSIOLOGY.       21 

portant  in  identification,  and  enables  us  to  recognize  the 
kind  of  attachment  of  the  ovulum  to  the  carpel  even  in 
the  fruit.  A  punctiform  or  only  short  oblong  hilum  at 
the  base  of  the  fruit  indicates  a  narrow,  and  an  elongated 
linear  hilum  an  extended,  attachment.  If  there  is  a  fur- 
row in  the  fruit,  then  the  hilum  is  always  to  be  looked 
for  in  this,  and  moreover  invariably  on  the  side  of  the 
palea,  which  must  first  be  shaved  off  in  those  fruits 
where  the  pericarp  is  adherent  to  the  bracts. 

The  embryo  is  usually  small,  seldom  more  than  half 
as  long  as  the  fruit,  straight,  rarely  slightly  bent  ( Oryza], 
with  the  radicle  turned  downwards.  Its  most  striking 
portion  is  the  scutellum  (Sc  in  Fig.  6),  which  is  regarded 
(although  not  undisputedly)  as  the  cotyledon.  It  is  a 
flat  but  somewhat  thick  body,  roundish  to  elongated- 
oval  in  circumference,  lying  close  .on  its  inner  side  to 
the  albumen,  with  the  plumule  and  radicle  surrounded 
by  the  coleorhiza  situated  in  its  somewhat  shallow  ex- 
terior. The  plumule  lies  free  upon  the  scutellum,  but 
below  the  plumule  the  axis  of  the  embryo  is  united  with 
it ;  this  is  the  point  of  insertion  of  the  scutellum  beyond 
which  it  projects  downwards  and  outwards  as  far  as  the 
point  of  the  coleorhiza  (Fig.  6,  E,  H}.  This  descending 
portion  of  the  scutellum  is  grown  for  a  longer  (Wheat)  or 
shorter  (Maize)  distance  to  the  posterior  part  of  the  cole- 
orhiza, and  its  edges  are  either  free  at  both  sides  (Triti- 
cum,  etc.),  or  they  turn  forward  and  grow  so  completely 
over  the  coleorhiza  that  they  entirely  unite  in  front  or 
leave  only  a  small  cleft  (Maize,  L  in  Fig.  6,  M,  Sorghum). 
If  this  is  the  case,  it  is  only  in  germination  that  the  side 
portions  are  pushed  back  (Fig.  6,  N)  and  the  entire 
embryo  becomes  visible.  The  inside  of  the  scutellum 
shows  a  peculiar  kind  of  epidermis,  the  so-called  cylinder 
epithelium,  of  palisade-formed,  cylindrical  cells  with 
delicate  walls.  They  are  for  the  purpose  of  absorbing 
the  dissolved  amylaceous  material  of  the  albumen.  The 
scutellum  also  contains  a  nbro-vascular  bundle,  and  this 
often  has  short  branches.  In  germination  it  remains 
within  the  pericarp. 

In  many  grasses  there  is  in  front  of  the  embryo  and 


22 


THE  TRUE  OR  ASSES 


\ 


Fio  6. — A,  Longitudinal  section  through  the  ovary  of  Barley  (after  Johannsen,  "Das 
Endosperm  der  Gerste");  ni.  micropyle:  /,,  i,,  outer  and  inner  integuments;  es. 
embryo-sac.  B.  Fruit  of  Wheat  from  in  front.  C,  The  same  from  behind. 
£>,  The  same  with  the  embryo  uncovered;  P.  the  pericarp  thrown  back;  sc, 
scutelluin;  K,  embryonic  bud  and  rootlet.  E.  The  emoryo  by  itself,  highly  mag- 
nified: sc,  scutellnm;  ep.  epicotyl.  F,  The  same  in  radial  section.  //,  The  same 
seen  from  the  side.  J.  Germinating  wheat;  c,  the  coleorhiza  after  being  broken 
through. 


STRUCTURE,  MORPHOLOGY,  AND  PHYSIOLOGY.       23 


Fia.  6,  Continued.— K,  embryo  of  Rice,  radial  longitudinal  section  (Figs.  B-K  after  L. 
Richard,  Analyse  des  embryons  et  endorhizes).  L,  Fruit  of  maize,  longitudinal  sec- 
tion after  Sachs,  Lehrb.  der  Bot.);  End,  albumen;  Sc.  scutellum;  St,  epicotyl 
joint  of  stem;  iUj,  the  beginnings  of  roots  rising  from  the  epicotyl;  w,  main  root; 
c,  coleorhiza:  L.  anterior  edges  of  the  scutellum;  h,  hilum.  M,  embryo  of  Maize; 
L.  anterior  edges  of  the  scutellum  covering  the  plumule  (after  Richard,  a,  a,  O). 
N.  The  same  germinating,  consequently  L  are  pushed  to  one  side;  c,  coleorhiza 
(after  Mirbel,  Ann.  Mus.  Nat..  XIII.  pi.  13).  O,  embryo  of  Stijxt  chrysovhyUa  Desv.r 
Sc,  scutellum;  K.  plumule;  en.  epicotyl.  P,  The  same  seen  from  the  side  (after 
E.  Desvaux,  Gram,  et  Gyp.  chil.,  tab.  76). 


24  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

opposite  the  scutellum  a  small  scale-like  appendage,  the 
epiblast  (ep  in  Fig.  6,  E,  0,  P).  It  is  especially  clear  in 
Stipa  (Fig.  6,  0,  P),  and  yet  better  developed  in  Zizania 
(where  it  is  as  long  as  the  plumule),  but  is  entirely 
lacking  in  many  grasses  (Rye,  Maize,  and  Barley) ;  gen- 
erally it  is  merely  a  delicate  formation  consisting  of 
parenchyma  witho-ut  fibro- vascular  bundles,  and  its 
morphological  nature  is  still  doubtful.  Yet  the  view 
that  it  is  a  rudimentary  second  cotyledon  is  the  most 
reasonable,  for  among  other  things  this  makes  compre- 
hensible the  surprising  position  of  the  first  leaf  of  the 
plumule  just  above  (not  opposite  to)  the  scutellum.  The 
plumule  of  the  embryo  consists  of  a  very  short,  often  in- 
distinct internode  of  the  axis  (epicotyl)  and  of  two  to 
four  leaves,  and  according  to  the  development  of  the 
former  the  plumule  is  sessile  or  petioled.  The  first 
leaf,  the  germ-sheath,  surrounds  the  others  like  a  closed 
tube,  which  breaks  through  the  ground  with  its  hard 
point  at  the  time  of  germination,  and  opens  at  its  apex 
after  a  time  in  order  to  allow  the  exit  of  the  second  leaf. 
It  is  colorless  or  pale  green  or  frequently  reddish. 
Many  authors  consider  it  a  part  of  the  cotyledon,  a  view 
which  is  certainly  incorrect,  for  in  many  grasses  (all 
Panicece,  Andropogonece,  May  dew,  many  Festucece  and 
Hordece)  it  is  clearly  separated  from  the  scutellum  at  the 
time  of  germination  by  a  distinct  internode  (epicotyl) 
which  is  often  much  elongated  (compare  Fig.  6,  L,  st]. 
In  others  (Triticum,  etc.)  this  epicotyl  is  very  short  or 
entirely  lacking,  so  that  the  back  of  the  sheath  may  even 
be  grown  to  the  scutellum. 

The  majority  of  grasses  have  only  one  radicle,  and 
grow  therefore  with  a  primary  root ;  in  addition  to  which, 
especially  from  the  epicotyl  new  roots  soon  arise  which 
finally  exceed  the  main  root  in  growth.  In  several 
grasses,  especially  in  the  cereals,  and  also  in  Coix 
lachryma  and  others,  the  foundation  of  these  secondary 
roots  is  already  laid  before  germination,  usually  in  the 
hypocotyl  (the  axis  below  the  insertion  of  the  scutellum) ; 
seldom,  and  only  io  a  rudimentary  degree,  in  the  epicotyl 
(Zea,  Fig.  6,  L,  iv^).  The  plane  of  these  secondary  roots 


STRUCTURE,  MORPHOLOGY,  AND  PHYSIOLOGY.       25 

is  parallel  to  that  of  the  scutellum  ;  they  can  therefore 
be  seen  only  in  tangential  (Fig.  6,  F]  and  not  in  radial 
section  (Fig.  6,  G)  of  the  seed.  In  germination,  each  root- 
let independently  breaks  through  the  coleorhiza,  which 
surrounds  each  with  a  small  sheath.  Before  the  roots 
break  through,  the  elongating  coleorhiza  ruptures  the 


FIG.  7. — A,  A  cell  in  the  albumen  of  Zea  Mays  filled  with  polyhedral  starch-grains, 
between  which  are  thin  plates  of  dried,  finely-grained  protoplasm,  a-g,  Starch- 
grains  from  the  amylaceous  tissue  of  germinating  maize  seed.  B,  Starch-grains 
(lenticular)  from  the  amylaceous  tissue  of  a  germinating  seed  of  Triticum  vul- 
gare ;  the  first  action  of  the  dissolving  ferment  shows  itself  in  the  distinct 
lamination  (X  800).  (After  Sachs.) 

pericarp  and  sends  numerous  hairs  from  its  epidermis, 
thus  fastening  the  somewhat  superficially  placed  seed  to 
the  ground.  The  embryo  is  rich  in  oils  and  proteids 
and  even  sugar,  but  contains  no  starch.  The  albumen 
consists  of  large,  polygonal,  parenchymatic  cells  which, 
with  the  exception  of  the  outer  layer,  are  rich  in  starch- 


26  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

grains.  Between  these,  which  often  fill  nearly  the  entire 
space,  finely  granular  albuminous  bodies  are  irregularly 
distributed  or  formed  into  a  network  of  delicate  plates, 
especially  distinct  in  the  peripheral  layers.  The  inner 
cells  show  them  but  little,  and  are  still  richer  in  starch- 
grains.  If  the  albuminoids  so  fill  up  the  intervals  be- 
tween the  starch-grains  that  the  latter  seem  to  be  im- 
bedded in  cement,  the  albumen  appears  translucent  and 
the  fruit  is  called  corneous  ;  but  if  the  union  is  less  in- 
timate, there  remain  numerous  small  air  cavities,  and 
the  albumen  is  opaque  and  the  fruit  is  mealy.  Both 
conditions  may  occur  in  the  same  species  or  variety 
(Wheat),  and  they  seem  to  be  occasioned  by  differences 
in  climate  and  soil.  Corneous  fruits  are  usually  richer 
in  albuminoids  than  mealy  ones  of  the  same  species. 

Starch. — As  to  the  form  of  the  starch-grains,  we  must 
distinguish  between  simple  and  compound.  The  latter 
(Fig.  8,  6)  are  large  and  composed  of  many  angular 
granules,  into  which  they  often  separate.  Simple 
grains  are  generally  present  with  them.  The  simple 
grains  have  central  cavities  and  are  either  isodiametric 
and  polygonal  (Fig.  7,  A),  or  more  rarely  lens- shaped 
with  rounded  edges,  in  the  latter  case  often  distinctly 
lainellated  and  without  central  cavity.  These  lens- 
shaped  bodies  are  always  mingled  with  many  smaller 
ones,  while  the  isodiametric  grains  are  of  tolerably  uni- 
form size.  These  characters  are  constant  within  most 
genera,  and  even  within  entire  tribes ;  they  are  therefore 
important  from  a  systematic  view,  although  the}"  are  not 
without  exception.  At  the  time  of  germination  the 
starch-grains  become  eaten  through  by  the  action  of  a 
kind  of  ferment,  so  as  to  be  full  of  holes  before  they  fall 
apart  (Fig.  7.  a-g\  The  starch-grains  of  certain  kinds 
of  liice  (gluten  rice),  Sorghum  (gluten  sorghum),  and 
of  Millet,  Panicum  miliaceum,  do  not  turn  blue  upon  the 
addition  of  iodine,  but  red  or  reddish  brown,  and  swell 
up  very  quickly.  According  to  A.  Meyer  this  is  caused 
by  their  containing  amylodextrin  and  dextrin.  The 
outermost  layer  and  sometimes  two  or  three  layers  of 
the  albumen  (Fig.  8,  5)  contain  no  starch  but  small  oil- 


STRUCTURE,  MORPHOLOGY,  AND  PHYSIOLOGY.       27 

drops,  and  still  finer  proteid  granules  are  imbedded  in 
the  very  delicate  protoplasmic  net.  They  are  often 
called,  but  not  properly,  gluten  cells  :  true  gluten  is  not 
to  be  found  in  a  dry  kernel ;  it  is  first  formed  from  one 
of  the  albuminoids  (Myosiu)  by  the  addition  of  water. 


FIG.  S.—Avena  sativa  L.  I,  Cross-section  of  the  entire  fruit.  .II,  A  small  piece  of 
the  peripheral  portion,  1;  2,  Pericarp;  3,  Testa;  4,  Remains  of  the  nucellus;  5-7, 
Amylaceous  tissue;  5,  Gluten  cells;  6  and  7,  Cells  of  albumen  containing  com- 
pouud  starch-grains— at  7  they  are  richer  in  albumen  and  poor  in  starch ;  8,  Fibro- 
vascular  bundle  of  the  seed-coat.  (From  Harz,  "Landwirtsch.  Samenkunde.") 

Frequently  we  understand  by  gluten  the  whole  of  the 
albuminoids,  but  these,  as  already  shown,  are  not  found 
in  the  glutinous  cells  only.  It  has  been  often  asserted 
that  bran  and  bran-bread  (in  wrhich  the  glutinous  layer 


28  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

is  not  removed)  are  very  nourishing,  but  through  later  in- 
vestigations this  assertion  has  been  brought  into  question. 

The  so-called  gluten  layer  is  the  outermost  one 
formed  in  the  embryo-sac  ;  outside  of  it  is  to  be  seen  a 
generally  indistinct,  rarely  very  clear  (Brachy podium  and 
Bromus)  layer  of  cells,  the  remainder  of  the  nucleus  of 
the  seed ;  outside  of  this  is  the  testa,  which  has  arisen 
from  the  inner  integument,  the  outer  one  having  disap- 
peared. Then  follows  the  pericarp.  (See  above.) 

Means  of  Distribution. — In  all  wild  grasses  certain 
parts  of  the  spikelet  or  of  the  entire  inflorescence  fall 
off  with  the  fruit.  If  the  spikelet  is  many-flowered  and 
every  flower  ripens  its  fruit,  then  its  axis  breaks  into  as 
many  pieces  as  there  are  fruits,  and  every  piece  carries 
a  floral  glume  and  palea.  If  the  spikelet  is  one-flowered, 
the  axis  of  the  spikelet  may  separate  above  the  empty 
glume,  so  that  the  floral  glume  and  the  palea  fall  off  with 
the  fruit  (Agrostece] ;  or  it  may  divide  below  the  empty 
glume,  and  the  spikelet  fall  off  as  a  whole  (Panicece,  An- 
dropogonece,  etc.).  If  the  spikelets  form  a  spike  or  a 
raceme,  it  frequently  happens  that  the  axis  of  the  latter 
divides,  so  that  one  spikelet  falls  off  with  each  joint 
(many  Andropogonece  and  Horde(e) ;  short  spikes  (  Triti- 
cum  ovatum  Godr.)  fall  from  the  culm  as  a  whole.  All 
these  arrangements  are  necessary  for  the  distribution  of 
the  seed  ;  they  are  lacking  (with  two  exceptions)  in  all 
cultivated  cereals,  but  are  present,  on  the  contrary,  in  all 
native  races  of  the  same  species,  so  far  as  these  are 
known.  Since  these  arrangements  are  very  disadvan- 
tageous for  the  complete  gathering  of  the  fruit,  varieties 
whose  axes  are  less  or  not  at  all  articulated  will  be  pre- 
ferred in  culture,  and  will  be  finally  fixed  by  natural 
selection. 

The  bracts  surrounding  the  fruit  act  as  a  more 
strongly  developed  pericarp ;  they  protect  the  embryo, 
which  is  near  the  surface,  from  too  rapid  wetting,  and 
keep  the  soluble  contents  from  being  soaked  out ;  and 
when  it  is  once  soaked  through,  they  also  protect  it  from 
drying  up  again.  But  they  are  especially  important  as 
means  for  distributing  the  fruit.  They  decrease  the 


STRUCTURE,  MORPHOLOGY,  AND  PHYSIOLOGY.       29 

specific  gravity,  and  consequently  the  seed  is  better 
adapted  for  transportation  by  the  wind  (very  small  fruits, 
like  those  of  Agrostis  and  Eragrostis,  which  are  light 
enough  in  themselves,  usually  fall  entirely  out  of  the 
bracts),  especially  if  the  empty  glumes  accompany  it 
and  have  a  considerable  surface  (Holcus),  or  generally 
the  fruit-bracts  are  large  in  comparison  with  the  fruit 
(Brizci),  the  whole  having  the  effect  of  a  winged  seed. 
A  still  greater  effect  is  produced  when  a  large  number 
of  sterile  glumes,  or  whole  groups  of  sterile  spikelets 
(Phalaris  ccerulescens  Desf.),  fall  off  with  the  fruit.  The 
glumes  or  parts  of  the  axis,  if  they  bear  long  hairs,  form 
a  peculiar  winged  apparatus  (PJirag mites,  Arundo,  Cdla- 
magrostis,  very  many  Andropogotwce,  especially  those  re- 
lated to  Saccharum  ;  Melica  ciliata  L.,  and  Stipa  pennata 
L.  (by  its  feathery  awns),  as  well  as  many  Aristida  spe- 
cies). Many  grasses  are  also  adapted  to  distribution 
by  the  fur  of  animals,  for  either  the  bracts  themselves 
(Tragus)  or  the  awns  (Hordeum,  Echinaria)  are  very 
rough  or  have  hooked  bristles.  In  Streptochceta  the 
ripe  fruit  hangs  from  delicate  spiral  threads  (the  awns), 
which  are  fastened  together  at  the  end  of  the  spike  ;  they 
are  free  below,  and  their  stiff  pointed  bracts,  bent  out- 
ward, act  like  fish-hooks  by  catching  into  the  fur  of  any 
animal  that  touches  them  in  passing.  The  fleshy  berries 
of  many  Banibusece  are  evidently  fitted  for  distribution 
by  animals,  which  neither  destroy  nor  digest  the  seeds. 
Not  a  few  grass-fruits  possess  a  powerful  instrument  in 
the  surrounding  bracts  for  fastening  themselves  into  the 
ground.  First  we  find  the  base  of  such  bracts  prolonged 
into  a  pointed  often  prickly  callus,  which  makes  its  pene- 
tration easy,  and  above  the  point  are  stiff  hairs  pointing 
upwards  which  make  it  difficult  to  draw  out  a  bract  that 
has  once  penetrated  the  soil  (Fig.  44,  cat).  A  very 
strong  bent  awn,  twisted  like  a  rope  below  the  bend, 
often  acts  as  a  motor.  This  awn  is  very  hygroscopic ; 
the  coils  unroll  or  unwind  when  damp,  and  when  dry 
they  return  to  their  former  condition ;  and  every  time 
this  happens  the  point  of  the  bract  is  rotated  with  lateral 
variations,  especially  when  the  upper  half  of  the  awn 


30  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

has  a  support  (a  neighboring  culm  or  merely  an  un- 
evenuess  in  the  soil).  This  rotation  and  nutation,  to- 
gether with  the  action  of  the  bristles,  soon  causes  the 
bract  surrounding  the  fruit  to  bore  deeply  into  the 
ground  (observed  in  several  Stipa  species,  Heteropogon 
contortus  R..  &  Sch.,  Avenafatua  L.  and  A.  barbata  Brot, 
several  Aristida  species  from  Brazil  and  New  Holland). 
If  such  boring  fruits  get  into  the  wool  of  sheep,  many 
kinds  will  in  a  short  time  bore  through  the  skin  into 
the  intestines,  where  they  cause  fatal  inflammation  (ob- 
served in  Stipa  capillata  L.  in  Russia,  St.  spartea  Trin. 
in  N.  America,  Aristida  hygrometrica  Br.  in  Queensland, 
Heteropogon  contortus  R.  &  Sch.  in  New  Caledonia).  Fruit 
may  also  bury  itself  without  the  help  of  twisted  awns  ;  in 
Triticum  ovatum  Godr.  the  spike  falls  off  entire,  and  since 
it  possesses  a  very  pointed  base  and  numerous  outward- 
pointing  rough  awrns,  wherever  these  find  a  hold  they  exert, 
by  every  movement  of  the  wind,  etc.,  a  pressure  upon  the 
point,  and  this  drives  it  into  the  ground.  (Herbarium 
specimens  loose  between  papers,  creep  backwards  of 
themselves.)  The  entire  inflorescence  of  Cornucopice 
(Fig.  46)  falls  off  at  the  time  of  fruit,  and  the  stem  then 
becomes  curved  and  very  pointed  at  the  end.  Whether 
this  serves  to  bury  it  or  to  attach  it  to  animals  is  un- 
certain. 

The  awns  of  Avena  sterilis  L.  have  a  peculiar  use. 
Two  strongly  awned  fruit-bracts  fall  off  fastened  to- 
gether ;  in  moist  surroundings  the  twisted  awns  begin 
to  rotate  their  diverging  upper  halves,  consequently  they 
cross  and  press  against  each  other  until  the  bracts  are 
forcibly  separated,  thus  giving  the  fruit  an  impetus 
which  throws  it  for  some  distance. 

Finally,  we  will  mention  a  peculiar  method  of  dis- 
tribution, viz.,  distribution  by  means  of  leafy  spikelets. 
In  many  grasses,  especially  in  high  latitudes  (south  as 
well  as  north)  and  upon  high  mountains  where  the 
ripening  of  the  fruit  is  often  uncertain,  it  is  not  rare  that 
entire  spikelets  or  single  flowers  with  floral  glume  and 
palea  transform  themselves  into  small-leaved  shoots 
which  are  provided  at  the  base  with  the  beginnings  of 


STRUCTURE,  MORPHOLOGY,  AND  PHYSIOLOGY.      31 

roots.  When  these  fall  off  from  their  axes  they  take 
root  in  the  ground.  In  some  grasses  (Poa  stricta  Lindb.) 
we  know  only  this  apogamic  condition  ;  others  are  very 
seldom  sexual  (Deschampsia  alpina  B.  &  Sch.,  Festuca 
Fuegiana  Hook.),  or  the  sexual  stage  is  lacking  in  cer- 
tain regions  (Poa  bulbosa  L.).  Poa  alpina  L.  and  Festuca 
ovina  L.  are  always  sexual  in  lower  countries,  but  in 
high  mountains  in  the  north  are  frequently  asexual. 
Such  leafy  panicles  have  a  very  curled  appearance. 

Geographical  Distribution. — Grasses  are  found  in  all 
parts  of  the  globe,  and  belong  to  the  outposts  of  phaeno- 
gamous  vegetation  in  the  polar  regions,  as  well  as  to  the 
limits  of  perpetual  snow  of  high  mountains.  The  great- 
est number  of  species  is  found  in  the  tropical  zone,  but 
the  number  of  individuals  is  greater  in  the  temperate 
zones,  where  they  are  closely  united  to  form  extended 
areas  of  turf  that  cover  large  meadows.  The  formation 
of  meadows  is  dependent  upon  a  uniform  rainfall  or  con- 
tinuous irrigation.  Grasses  also  predominate  in  steppes 
and  savannas,  but  here  they  grow  in  scattered  sods  or 
tufts  and  do  not  entirely  cover  the  ground.  The  savan- 
na grasses  are  characterized  by  the  fact  that  they 
often  reach  above  a  man's  head  and  are  reed-like.  The 
BambusecB  of  the  lowlands  form  an  important  part  of 
tropical  forests,  especially  in  regions  of  the  Monsoon. 
Upon  South  American  mountains  the  bushy  Bambusece 
form  an  entirely  closed  cover.  Aside  from  the  weed- 
grasses  that  have  been  generally  distributed  by  com- 
mercial intercourse  and  colonization,  there  are  several 
species  that  are  cosmopolitan  (for  example,  Heteropogon 
contort  us  R.  &  Sch.,  and  Phragmites  communis  Trin.),  and 
still  others  that  are  native  to  both  hemispheres  (also  to 
both  tropics).  Several  species  from  the  northern  wooded 
regions  (Deschampsia  ftexuosa  Trin.,  discolor  R.,  atropur- 
purea  Scheele,  Festuca  ovina  L.,  rubra  L.,  elatior  L.,  Poa 
nemoralis  L.  and  pratensis  L.)  are  absent  in  the  tropics, 
and  appear  again  unchanged  in  the  antarctic  regions ; 
others  appear  in  isolated  places  between  on  high  moun- 
tains of  the  tropics  (Pfdeum  alpinum  L.) ;  still  others 
(Alopecurus  alpinus  L.,  Trisetum  siibspicatum  Beauv.)  ap- 


32  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

pear  in  varieties  that  may  even  be  regarded  as  corre- 
sponding species.  Not  less  than  90  genera  are  common 
to  both  continents ;  among  these  are  many  that  are  ex- 
clusively tropical,  and  besides  ten  are  single  types.  No 
one  tribe  is  confined  to  one  hemisphere,  and  no  genus 
of  numerous  species  to  any  one  floral  region.  All  this 
goes  to  prove  that  grasses  are  a  family  distributed  very 
uniformly,  and  that  the  separation  of  their  tribes  goes 
back  to  very  ancient  times.  To  be  sure,  the  single  tribes 
have  varied  under  the  influence  of  the  later  divisions  into 
zones ;  while  the  Panicece  and  Andropogonece  preponder- 
ate in  the  tropics,  they  are  put  in  the  background  by  the 
Festucece,  Avenece,  and  Hordece  in  the  temperate  and  frigid 
zones.  The  eastern  North  American  forest  region  has 
preserved  many  more  of  them  (and  in  general  of  tropic 
types)  than  has  the  Old  World. 

Fossil  Grasses. — It  cannot  be  doubted  that  during  the 
past  geological  ages,  and  especially  in  the  tertiary  period, 
grasses  must  have  been  widespread  and  abundantly  de- 
veloped. The  numerous  remains  of  grass-like  leaves  are 
a  proof  of  this,  but  any  botanist  who  has  made  the  matter 
a  study  will  regard  as  a  complete  failure  the  efforts  of 
some  phyto-palseontologists  to  fix  upon  relations  to  liv- 
ing species  from  the  crushed  and  compressed  spikes  and 
spikelets.  The  fragments  described  as  Poacites  Brongn., 
Arundinites  Sap.,  Pseudophragmites  Sap.,  Paleopyrum 
Schmalh.,  may  be  entirely  passed  over  ;  but  even  others, 
whose  forms  point  towards  the  living  genera  Oryza,  Pani- 
cum,  Uniola,  and  consequently  may  lead  to  conclusions  as 
to  the  reasons  of  the  existing  geographical  distribution, 
are  not  sufficiently  characterized  for  the  determination  of 
genera.  There  are  still  others  which  with  good  reasons 
may  be  referred  to  Arundo,  Phragmites,  and  perhaps  to 
the  Bambusece.  (Engler.) 

Relations. — The  grasses  form  a  very  isolated  family, 
showing  close  relationship  only  to  the  Cyperacefe,  but 
markedly  differing  in  the  structure  of  the  fruit  and  em- 
bryo (outside  position,  shield-shaped  cotyledon,  etc.). 
The  number  of  species  is  uncertain,  since  our  knowledge 
of  them  is  made  obscure  by  a  mass  of  synonyms.  There 


STRUCTURE,  MORPHOLOGY,  AND  PHYSIOLOGY.       33 

are  probably  about  3500  well-defined  species.  As  in 
most  isolated  families,  the  subdivision  of  the  grasses  is 
very  difficult  and  nowhere  consists  in  single  characters, 
but  in  a  combination  of  them.  No  single  tribe,  no  large 
genus  numbering  over  50  species,  can  be  definitely 
characterized.  The  keys  of  analysis  in  Part  II,  espe- 
cially the  first,  are  therefore  subject  to  many  exceptions. 


PART  II. 

KEYS  OF  ANALYSIS  AND  DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND 
GENERA. 

NOTE.— The  numbers  in  parenthesis  preceding  the  names  of  the 
genera  refer  to  the  corresponding  genus  numbers  in  Bentham  &  Hooker, 
Genera  Plantarum. 

KEY  TO 'THE  TRIBES. 

A.  Spikelets  one-,  rarely  tivo- flowered,  lower  flower  when 
present  imperfect;  falling  from  the  pedicel  entire  or  to- 
gether  with  certain  joints  of  the  rachis  at  maturity. 
Rachilla  not  produced  beyond  the  flowers.     Internodes 
betiveen  the  different  glumes  or  flowers  not  measurable. 
a.  Hilum  punctiform.     Spikelets  not  flattened  later- 
ally, but  usually  somewhat   dorsally  compressed 
or  else  perfectly  round. 

a.  Flowering  glumes  and  palea  (the  latter  often 
wanting)  hyaline.     Empty  glumes  thick  mem- 
branaceous  to  coriaceous  or  cartilaginous,  the 
lowest  the  largest,  with  its  edges  embracing  the 
others.   Spikelets  generally  in  racemes  or  spikes 
whose  articulate  axes  break  up  at  maturity. 
I.  $  and  ?  spikelets  in  separate  inflorescences 
or  on  different  parts  of  the  same  inflores- 
cence  I.  Maydese. 

II.  Spikelets  either  all  £ ,  or  $  and  $ ,  and  so 

arranged  in  the  same  inflorescence  that  a  $ 

stands  near  a  5 .      .     .     II.  Andropogonese. 

ft.  Flowering  glume  and  palea  membranaceous  ; 

empty    glumes     herbaceous,    chartaceous     or 

coriaceous,   the    first    generally    the    largest; 

spikelets  falling  off  singly  or  in  groups  from 

the  continuous  rachis III.  Zoysieae. 

34 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA.  35 

y.  Flowering  glume  arid  palea  membranaceous, 
empty  glumes,  herbaceous  or  chartaceous ;  the 
first  empty  glume  smaller  or  narrower  than  the 
following  ones.  Spikelets  falling  off  singly 
from  the  ultimate  branches  of  the  panicle. 

IV.  Tristegineae. 

d.  Flowering  glume  and  palea  cartilaginous, 
coriaceous,  or  chartaceous.  Empty  glume  more 
delicate,  usually  herbaceous,  the  first  usually 
smaller.  Spikelets  falling  off  singly  from  the 
ultimate  branches  of  the  panicle  or  continuous 
(rarely  articulate)  rachis  of  a  spike. 

V.  Panicese. 
b.  Hilum  linear,  spikelets  laterally  compressed. 

VI.  Oryzeae. 
B.  Spikelets  l-oo  flowered,  the  \-floiveredfrequently  with  the 

rachilla  produced  beyond,  the  flowers,  rachilla  generally 
articulated  above  the  empty  glumes,  so  that  these  remain 
after  the  fall  of  the  fruiting  glumes.  When  from  two-  to 
many-flowered  there  always  are  distinct  internodes  be- 
tween the  flowers. 

a.  Culm  herbaceous,  annual ;  leaf-blade  sessile,  not 
articulated  with  the  sheath. 

a.  Spikelets  upon  distinct  (sometimes  very  short) 
pedicels,   in   panicles,   spike-like   panicles,  or 
racemes  (without  notches  in  the  main  axis). 
I.  Spikelets  one-flowered : 

1.  Empty  glumes  four,  palea  one-nerved. 

VTE.  Phalaridese. 

2.  Empty  glumes  two  (rarely  none),  palea 
two-nerved.       .     .     .    VIII.  Agrostideae. 

II.  Spikelets  2-oo  flowered  : 

1.  Flowering  glume  generally  shorter  than 
the  empty  ones ;    usually  with  a   bent 
awn  on  the  back,  rarely  awned  from  the 
point    or    awnless.     When    not    awned 
there   are   two   nearly  opposite   florets, 
and  the  rachilla  is  not  produced  beyond 
them IX.  Avenese. 

2.  Floral  glume  generally  longer  than  the 


36  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

empty  ones,  unawned  or  with  a  straight 
awn  from  the  point  (seldom  below). 

XI.  Festucese. 

/?.  Spikelets  crowded  in  two  close  rows,  forming  a 
one-sided  spike  or  raceme  with  a  continuous 

axis X.  Chloridese. 

y.  Spikelets  in  two  (rarely  more)  opposite  rows 
forming  an  equilateral  spike  (very  rarely  uni- 
lateral)  XII.  Hordese. 

b.  Culm  (at  least  at  the  base)  woody,  leaf -blade  often 
with  a  short,  slender  petiole  articulated  with  the 
sheath  from  which  it  finally  separates. 

XIII.  Bambusese. 

TEIBE  I. — MAYDE.E. 

The  $  spikelets  occupying  the  upper  portion  of  the 
inflorescence  or  of  its  divisions,  the  ?  below.  Grain 
ellipsoidal  or  roundish,  unfurrowed,  with  large  embryo, 
and  enclosed  in  a  hard  capsule  formed  by  the  glumes  or 
part  of  the  articulate  rachis  (Zea  excepted),  separating 
finally  as  a  false  fruit.  Starch-grains  simple,  polyhedral. 
Culm  tall,  with  pith  ;  leaves  broad,  flat. 

EEMARKS. — Only  the  ?  spikelets  are  arranged  in  true 
spikes  ;  the  $  spikes,  so  called,  of  Maize,  etc.,  are,  like  the 
spikes  of  Andropogonece,  really  racemes,  since  the  spike- 
lets  corresponding  to  the  primary  branches  of  the  axis 
of  the  spike  are  distinctly  pedicellate.  But  since  these 
pedicels  bear  secondary,  sessile  spikelets  at  their  bases, 
and  these  apparently  are  borne  on  the  main  axis,  the 
whole  has  the  appearance  of  a  spike.  In  Maydece  the 
term  "  spike"  has  been  kept  up  also  for  the  $  racemes 
in  order  to  avoid  two  different  terms. 

A.  $  spikes  numerous  in  terminal  panicles,   9  spikes  in  the 
axils  of  leaves  subtended  by  large  membranaceous  bracts 
at  the  base. 

a.  ?  spikes  of  each  leaf-axil  free,  articulated. 

l.  Euchlsena. 

b.  ?  spikes  of  each  leaf-axil  grown  together  into  a 
continuous,  compound  and  much  thickened  axis 
(the  "ear") 2.  Zea. 

B.  $  spikes  solitary  at  the  ends  of  the  branchlets,   ?  below, 
1-2,  each  of  them  reduced  to  a  single  spikelet  ivhich  is 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA.  37 

entirely  enclosed  by   the   ovate  or  spherical,   ivory-like 

sheath  of  the  subtending  bract 7.  Coix. 

C.  $  and  ?  spikelets  in  the  same  spike  (at  least  in  the  lat- 
eral spikes},  the  lowest  empty  glume  of  the  $  spikelets 
indurated. 

a.  The  covering  of  the  false  fruit  chiefly  formed  by 
the  rachis,  its  opening  in  front  closed  by  the  nar- 
row empty  glume 3.  Tripsacum. 

b.  The  covering  of  the  false  fruit  chiefly  formed  by 
the  first  empty  glume,  which  is  appressed  to  the 
narrow  joint  of  the  axis  to  which  it  is  attached  on 
the  inner  side. 

a.  The  terminal  spikes  $  ,  the  lateral  ones  androg- 
ynous or  $ 4.  Polytoca. 

ft.  Spikes  all  monoecious. 

I.  Several  $  spikelets  above  the  $ ,  the  latter 
without  membranaceous  appendages. 

5.  Chionachne. 

II.  One  $  spikelet  above  every  $ ,  each  of  the 
latter  provided  with  an  open  membrana- 
ceous appendage  (the  hardened  outer 
glume) 6.  Sclerachne. 

NOTE. — In  the  explanations  of  all  the  following  figures  the  letters  are 
used  as  follows :  A,  entire  inflorescence  or  part  of  the  same  ;  B, 
spikelet ;  C,  empty  glumes  (in  order  Ci,  C2,  C3,  C4) ;  D,  flowering 
glume  ;  E,  palea  ;  F,  flower  ;  G,  lodicules  ;  J,  pi°til  ;  K,  fruit  or  grain. 
Special  letters  are  explained  in  the  descriptions. 

1.  (37)  Euchlama  Schrad.  (Reana  Brign.).  Two  $ 
spikelets  to  each  joint  of  the  rachis  (one  sessile,  the 
other  pedicellate),  both  two-flowered  with  membrana- 
ceous glumes  ;  9  in  two-ranked  spikes  (apparently  one- 
ranked).  These  spikes  are  fasciculate  in  the  leaf-axils ; 
the  joints  of  the  axis  to  which  they  belong  are  trape- 
zoids,  so  that  as  they  fall  off,  the  obliquity  of  the  upper 
surface  of  one  alternates  in  direction  with  that  above  or 
below  it.  The  edges  of  the  cavity  embrace  the  first  car- 
tilaginous empty  glume,  forming  with  it  at  maturity  a 
smooth  cartilaginous  capsule  or  false  fruit.  Styles  pro- 
longed far  beyond  the  leaf  at  the  base  of  the  spikelet,  and 
two-cleft  at  the  end.  Tall  annuals  with  verv  broad  leaves. 


38 


THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 


one  species  (E.  Mexicana  Schrad.)  (Fig.  9)  with 
varieties  (e.g.,  E.  luxurians 
in  Mexico,  "Teosiute"). 
Stems  2-7  m.  high,  very 
leafy,  and  valuable  for 
fodder  in  warm  countries  ; 
rarely  blossoms  in  Eu- 
rope, even  in  the  south. 
[Teosinte  is  cultivated  in 
the  Southern  States  for 
green  fodder.  It  rarely 
blooms,  and  matures  its 
seeds  only  in  southern 
Florida.] 

2.  (38)  Zea  L.  (Mays 
Gartn.).  Habit,  foliage, 
$  inflorescence,  arrange- 
ment of  the  ?  spikes  in  the 
leaf-axils  with  membra- 
naceous  basal  bracts  and 
the  long  projecting  styles, 
as  in  the  preceding  genus, 
but  the  $  spikes  (orig- 
inally by  monstrous  or  ter- 
atological  development?) 
are  grown  together  into 
a  spongy,  continuous, 
club-shaped  body  (the 
"cob")  upon  which  the 


Fio.  9.- 


elevation  that  is 
limited  by  a  long  shallow 
furrow  on  each  side)  correspond  to  a  single  spike  of 
EucMcvna.  Grain  developed  at  the  expense  of  the  other 
parts,  projecting  beyond  the  thin  bracts,  which  rarely 
become  coriaceous  and  enclose  it. 

One  species  (Zea  Mays  L.),  Maize  (Fig.  10),  known 
only  in  its  cultivated  state,  but  originating  at  all  events 
in  tropical  America,  apparently  greatly  changed  by  cul- 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA.  39 


FIG  10  -Zea  Mays  L.    (Grosser  parts  after  Maout  and  Decaisne,  details  after  Nees, 
Gen.  I.,  3.  4.) 


40  THE  TRUE  Q BASSES. 

ture.  "  Husk  Maize"  (see  below)  may  approach  the  na- 
tive form  in  its  glumes,  the  occasional  division  into 
more  or  less  separated  spikes,  and  an  indication  of  ar- 
ticulations in  the  inflorescence. 

The  present  condition,  perhaps  an  anomaly  obtained 
by  culture,  is  lacking  in  every  means  of  distribution, 
and  is  therefore  scarcely  typical.  The  cultivation  of 
Maize  has  not  only  extended  into  nearly  all  tropical  and 
sub-tropical  countries,  but  has  also  penetrated  into 
temperate  regions  (in  Europe  and  North  America,  as  a 
cereal,  as  far  as  48°,  and  as  a  fodder  plant  still  farther 
north),  and  around  Lake  Titicaca  at  3900  meters  above 
sea  level.  Culm  1-5  m.  high,  1-6  cm.  thick  ;  leaves  broad 
with  undulating  margins  and  gently  drooping  ends. 

About  sixty  varieties  are  known,  differing  from  one  an- 
other in  form,  color,  and  size  of  fruit.  The  following  are 
the  most  important : 

a)  Common  Maize.     Ear  8-24  cm.  long ;    kernel  me- 
dium size,  compressed  from  the  back,  rounded  at  the 
point,  generally  yellow ;  rarely  white,  red,  violet,  black, 
blue,  or  variegated  in  the  same  ear. 

b)  Pearl  Maize,  very  small,  slender ;  kernels  scarcely 
6  mm.  long,  round  above,  vitreous,  very  shiny  like  glassy 
beads. 

c)  Horse-tooth  Maize.     Kernels    large,  strongly  com- 
pressed from  the  back,  sides  flat,  base  dimple  dented  or 
creased.     A  very  tall  variety  found  especially  in  North 
America. 

d)  Sugar  Maize.     Kernels  much    wrinkled,  vitreous, 
appearing  like   gum   arabic   when   broken,    containing, 
instead  of  starch-grains,  a  soluble  modification  of  starch, 
together  with  a  little  finely  granular  starch.     Cultivated 
in  North  America. 

e)  Cuzco  Maize.     Kernels  2.5  cm.  in  length  and   1.8 
cm.  in  breadth,  much  compressed,  tapering  toward  the 
base. 

f)  Husk  Maize,  with  herbaceous,  ovate,  pointed  empty 
glumes  entirely  covering  the  kernels.     If  the  ovary  of 
yellow  maize  be  fertilized  with   the  pollen  of  a  black 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA.  41 

fruited  variety,  the  resulting  grain  will  be  yellow  with 
grayish-black  flecks. 

Uses. — The  very  nourishing  meal  is  sometimes  made 
into  mush  ("  Polenta")  by  boiling,  but  its  exclusive 
use  gives  rise  to  a  skin  disease;  it  is  also  made  into 
cakes  ("  Tortillas"),  and  sometimes  mixed  with  wheat 
flour,  or  wheat  and  rye,  to  make  bread  ("  Brown  bread  " 
of  New  England).  The  unripe  ears  are  roasted  or 
pickled  in  vinegar  as  a  vegetable ;  from  the  fruit  the 
natives  of  South  America  prepare  an  alcoholic  drink 
("  Chica"),  another  ("  Pulque  de  Mahiz")  is  made  in 
Mexico  by  the  fermentation  of  the  very  sweet  sap  that  is 
pressed  out  of  the  stem.  In  North  America  efforts  have 
been  made  to  make  sugar  from  this  juice.  The  boiled 
fruit  makes  an  excellent  food  for  swine  and  poultry,  and 
the  entire  plant,  even  the  straw,  is  an  excellent  fodder 
for  cattle.  The  husks  are  used  for  making  paper  as  well 
as  for  hats,  matting,  and  for  filling  beds,  etc.  The  large 
variety  horse-tooth  maize)  as  well  as  that  with  striped 
leaves  is  used  for  lawn  decorations  in  ornamental 
gardening. 

Maize  was  imported  into  Europe  soon  after  the  dis- 
covery of  America,  at  about  the  same  time  that  Northern 
Europe  received  Buckwheat  from  Central  Asia  and 
Russia.  In  view  of  the  wide  distribution  it  had  attained 
when  America  was  discovered,  and  the  manner  of  its  cul- 
tivation, its  culture  in  this  country  must  be  very  ancient, 
though  older  discoveries  are  wanting,  since  the  finding  of 
maize-kernels  in  the  renowned  graveyard  of  Ankon  in 
Lima  is  not  reliable,  for  determining  its  antiquity,  for 
those  graves  were  evidently  used  after  as  well  as  before 
the  discovery  of  America. 

3.  (36)  Tripsacum  L.  One  to  several  upright  terminal 
spikes,  besides  those  in  the  leaf  axils.  The  $  spikelets 
in  pairs  at  each  joint  of  the  axis,  two-flowered  ;  the  ? 
single,  one-flowered ;  styles  connate  near  the  base,  stig- 
mas long.  Capsule  or  false  fruit  as  in  EucMcena,  but 
separating  less  obliquely ;  at  each  side  of  the  base  of 
the  empty  glumes  (as  in  Eitchlcena]  there  is  a  cavity  for 


42 


THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 


the  protruding  radicle  in  germination.     Tall  perennial 
grasses  with  rather  broad  leaves. 

Species  two  or  three,  in  sub-tropical  America  north  of 
the  Equator.     Tr.  dactyloides  L.  ("  Gama  grass")  extends 


FIG.  ll.—Triptacwn  dactyloides  L.  R, 
Joint  of  the  rachis.  (After  Asa 
Gray,  "  Man.,"  plate  14.) 


Fio.  12. — CoixLacrt/ma L.  (After 
Mart,  and  Eichl.',  "  Fl.  bras.,'1 
II.  II.  plate  10.) 


as  far  north  as  Illinois  and  Connecticut,  growing  in  wet 
places,  and  is  used  for  fodder  and  also  as  an  ornamental 
plant.  (Fig.  11.) 

4.  (33)  Polytoca Brown.  (CyathoracMs'Nees.)  Terminal 
panicle  consisting  of  from  three  to  many  $  spikes.     Fas- 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND   GENERA.  43 

cicles  of  spikes  in  the  axils  of  the  leaves  composed  of  $ 
spikelets  above  and  ?  below;  the  latter  with  rather 
long  sterile  glumes  that  are  cartilaginous  below  and 
chartaceous  above,  completely  enclosing  the  narrow 
joints  of  the  rachis. 

Species  three,  in  the  East  Indies,  one  (P.  macrophylla 
Benth.)  in  Louisiade  Archipelago. 

5.  (34)  Chionachne    Brown.      Culm   much   branched, 
branches  terminated  by  spikes  that  are  subtended  by  a 
sheathing   leaf.     Spikes  with  1-5  ?  and  many  (usually 
in  pairs)  $  spikelets.     Similar  to   Coix  (see  below),  but 
the  fruit  capsule  is  formed  by  the  first  empty  glume. 

Species  three,  in  the  East  Indies,  Malayan  Archipel- 
ago to  Australia. 

6.  (35)  Sclerachne  Brown.     Like  the  preceding,  but 
the  spikes,  which  are  half  enclosed  in  the  leaf-sheath, 
have   only  one    $  spikelet,    and   the  ?  spikelet  has  an 
appendage  upon  the  first  empty  glume.     Species  one  (S. 
punctata  Brown)  in  Java. 

7.  (32)  Coix  L.  (Lithagrostis  Gartii.).     Culm  branched 
repeatedly,  branches  ending  in  one  or  two  short,  ivory- 
like,  nearly  globose  capsules  with  an  orifice   at  the  top, 
and  surrounding  the  ?  inflorescences,  each  of  which  con- 
tains one  fertile  and  1-2  sterile  (often  reduced  to  a  pedicel) 
spikelets  ;  the  $  inflorescence  projects  out  of  the  orifices 
of  the  capsules,  and  is  composed  of  spikelets  in  pairs. 
The  capsule  is  formed  by  the  sheath  of  the  leaf  at  the 
base  of  the  ?  inflorescence,  and  often  shows  a  rudimen- 
tary blade.     Glumes  of  the  ?  spikelets  delicate ;  style 
long,  stigma  short,  hairy. 

Species  3-4,  in  India  and  China,  and  from  there  (C. 
Lacryma  L.,  Tear-grass  ["Job's  Tears"],  Fig.  12)  spread 
throughout  the  tropical  zone  ;  cultivated  in  China  be- 
cause the  fruit  is  believed  valuable  as  a  diuretic  and  anti- 
phthisis.  In  Catholic  countries  the  fruit  capsule  is  used 
for  rosaries. 

TRIBE  II. — ANDROPOGONEJE. 

Spikelets  in  spike-like  racemes  (cf.  remarks  on  May- 
dece),  two  (rarely  only  one)  at  each  joint  of  the  usually 


44  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

articulate  racliis,  one  sessile  and  one  pedicellate,  often 
apparently  three  at  the  terminal  joint.  Raceme  some- 
times reduced  to  the  terminal  joint.  Spikelets  generally 
one-flowered  with  three  empty  glumes,  rarely  a  flowering 
glume  with  a  $  flower  instead  of  the  third  empty  glume  ; 
first  empty  glume  always  more  indurated  than  the  flow- 
ering glume,  the  latter  often  hyaline,  usually  bearing  a 
bent  or  twisted  awn.  Palea  usually  shorter  than  its 
glume,  sometimes  0.  Stamens  three,  rarely  two  or  one. 
Style  free,  stigma  plumose.  Grain  uniiirrowed,  embryo 
nearly  half  as  large  as  the  fruit.  Starch-grains  simple, 
polyhedral  to  roundish.  Mainly  natives  of  elevated 
plains  within  the  tropics,  forming  an  important  part  of 
the  grasses  of  the  savannas. 
A.  Spikelets  homogamoiis,  $  ;  joints  of  the  rachis  not  much 

thickened,  nor  excavated  for  the  reception  of  the  spikelet. 

(Saccharece.) 

a.  Axis  of  racemes  continuous. 
a.  Spikelets  solitary. 

I.  Spikelets  on  very  short  pedicels,  disposed 
in  one  to  several  slender  unilateral  racemes. 

8.  Dimeria. 

II.  Spikelets   pedicellate,  forming    a    narrow, 
symmetrical,  and  much-branched  panicle. 

36.  Cleistachne. 

ft.  Spikelets  in  pairs,  rarely  in  threes,  upon  each 
joint  of  the  rachis. 
I.  Eacemes  in   a   narrow  spike-like   panicle, 

spikelets  awnless 9.  Imperata. 

II.  Racemes  in  broad  often  fan-shaped  pani- 
cles, spikelets  usually  awned. 

10.  Miscanthus. 

b.  Axis  of  racemes  articulate. 

a.  Racemes  solitary,  terminal. 

I.  Spikelets  in  pairs  at  each  joint  of  the  rachis. 
16.  Pogonatherum. 

II.  Spikelets  in  threes  at  each  joint  of  the  axis. 

15.  Polytrias. 

ft.  Racemes  two  to  many,  digitate  or  approximate 
on  a  shortened  main  axis. 
I.  Spikelets  one-,  rarely  two-flowered ;   when 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA.  45 

two-flowered  the  first  empty  glume  has  a 
median  longitudinal  furrow.  .    13.  Pollinia. 
II.  Spikelets  two-flowered,  first  empty  glume 
without  a  longitudinal  furrow. 

25.  Ischsemum  (in  part). 

y.  Racemes  in  a  much-branched  panicle  upon  an 
elongated  main  axis,  the  lateral  racemes  sessile. 

I.  Spikelets  awned 12.  Erianthus. 

II.  Spikelets  unawned.    .     .     .11.  Saccharum. 

d\  Racemes  ^usually  short)  in  branched  panicles 

with  elongated  main  axis,  the  lateral  racemes 

pedicellate 14.  Spodiopogon. 

B.  Spikelets  heterogamous  or  rarely  homogamous,  the  joints 
of  the  axis  of  the  raceme  (false  spike)  appressed  or  grown 
to  the  pedicels  of  the  primary  spikelets,  forming  together 
with  the  pedicels  a  hollow  or  excavation  for  the  reception 
of  the  secondary  spikelets  ;  fertile  glumes  alivays  awnless. 
(fiottbcelliece.) 

a.  Joints  of  the  rachis  and  pedicels  complanate,  not 
pressing  against  each  other,  but  opposite ;  the  £ 
spikelets  sessile  upon  each  joint  of  the  axis  and 
their  posterior  sides  pressed  against  each  other, 
embracing  only  by  the  edges.     .     17.  Ratzeburgia. 

b.  Joints  of  rachis  and  pedicels  thick,  appressed  or 
grown  together,  the  £  spikelets  single  upon  each 
joint  (very  rarely  in  twos),  entirely  enclosed   in 
front. 

a.  First   empty  glume   naked,  awnless   (at   most 
only  the  terminal  spikelet  caudate). 
I.  The  first  empty  glume  flat  or  simply  con- 
vex  18.  Rottboellia. 

II.  First  empty  glume  globose,  with  an  open- 
ing upon  the  inner  side  which  is  closed  by 
the  joint  of  the  rachis.   .     .      19.  Manisuris. 
/?.  The  first  sterile  glume  of  all  or  of   only  the 
pedicelled  spikelets  awned  or  caudate. 
I.  Racemes    simple    or     again    disposed    in 
racemes  (compound). 

1.  Spikelets,  both  sessile    and   pedicellate 
(the    latter    sometimes    apparently   re- 


46  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

duced    to    a    pedicel)   with    1-2    short 

awns 20.  Rhytachne. 

2.  Sessile  spikelets  awnless,  the  pedicellate 
with  long  awns.    ..     .     .     21.  Urelytrum. 
II.  Racemes  digitate ;  the  first  glumes  of  all  the 
spikelets  long  caudate-pointed.    22.  Vossia. 
C.  Spikelets  heterogamous,  the  sessile  £  (rarely  ? ),  the  pedi- 
cellate $ ,  empty  or  wanting,  very  rarely  all    %    or  all 
pedicellate.     Joints  of  raceme  not  strongly  thickened,  nor 
with  excavations  for  the  reception  of  the  spikelets.     (The- 
lepogon  excepted.) 

a.  Sessile  spikelets  two-flowered  (Ischwmece). 

a.  Racemes    reduced  to    the  terminal  joint  with 
three  spikelets,  and  enclosed  by  a   sheathing 

leaf  or  bract 28.  Apluda. 

/3.   Racemes  with  many  joints. 

I.  Pedicellate     spikelets     developed,    flower- 
bearing. 

1°.  Sessile  spikelets  awnless,  pedicellate 
awned;  first  empty  glume  three- 
toothed 27.  Lophopogon. 

2°.  Sessile  spikelets  awned  or  with  the 
flowering  glume  at  least  mucronate- 
pointed ;  empty  glumes  not  three- 
toothed 24.  Ischsemum. 

II.  Pedicellate    spikelets,    very    rudimentary, 
or  reduced  to  the  pedicel. 
1°.  First  sterile  glume  pectinate-fringed  at 
least   at   the    base  ;    racemes  solitary, 
spikelets  awnless.    .     .25.  Eremochloa. 
2°.  First  empty  glume  not  fringed  ;  racemes 
two,  closely  appressed  to  each  other; 
spikelets  usually  awned.     26.  Apocopis. 
3°.  First  empty  glume  not  fringed,  trans- 
versely    wrinkled      and      tuberculate ; 
racemes  digitate  ;  spikelets  awned. 

23.  Thelepogon. 

b.  Sessile   spikelets,  one-flowered  ( Euandropogonece}. 
Flowering  glume  of  the  pedicellate  spikelets  awn- 
less. 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA.  47 

a.  Axis   of    racemes    indistinctly   articulate,    not 
brittle  ;  spikelets  all  pedicellate. 

29.  Trachypogon. 

/3.  Axis  of  racemes  distinctly  articulate  ;  spikelets 
both  sessile  and  pedicellate. 
I.  First  empty  glume  with  a  balsam-bearing 
line  within  the  side  keels.     Racemes  soli- 
tary ;  spikelets  awnless.          30.  Elionurus. 
II.  First  empty  glume  without  balsam  lines. 
Racemes    when     solitary    almost    always 
awned. 

1.  A  false  whorl  of  four  or  more  staminate 
or  empty  spikelets  at  the  base  of  each 
raceme.     Racemes  solitary,  short,  usu- 
ally subtended  by  a  sheathing  leaf. 

*  False  whorl  composed  of  four  $  ,  one-^ 
flowered  or  empty  spikelets. 

t    $  spikelets  with  a  pointed  callus, 

readily  separating  from  the  false 

whorl.       .     .     .        33.  Themeda. 

ft  $  spikelets  without  a  callus,  falling 

off  together  with  the  false  whorl. 

35.  Iseilema. 

**  False  whorl  composed  of  6-9  $ 
two-flowered  spikelets. 

34.  Germainia. 

2.  No  distinct  false  whorl  of  $  spikelets  at 
the  base  of  the  racemes,  or  where  an  im- 
perfect one  occurs,  the  racemes  in  pairs, 
subtended  by  a  leaf-sheath. 

*  Fertile  glume  awned  from  the  back 
or  base  ;  leaves  cordate  at  base. 

31.  Arthraxon. 

**  Fertile  glumes  awned  from  the  point 
or  from  a  more  or  less  deep  cleft,  or 
awnless ;  leaves  not  cordate  at  the 
base 32.  Andropogon. 

1.  SUB-TRIBE  Dimerieae. 

8.  (82)  Dimeria  R.  Brown.  (Haplacline  Presl.,  Didactylon 
Zoll.,  Psilostachys  Steud.,  Pterygostachyum  Nees).    Spike- 


48 


THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 


Fio.  13.— Saccharum  officinarum  L.  (After  Bentley  et  Trimen,  "  Medicinal  Plants.") 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA  49 


F 

FlQ.   13.— Continued. 

lets  one-flowered,  linear,  laterally  compressed  ;  first  emp- 
ty glume  keeled,  flowering  glumes  awned.     Stamens  two. 
Species  twelve,  in  East  Indies,  S.  China,  N.  Australia. 

2.  SUB-TRIBE  Sacchareae. 

9.  (73)  Imperata  Cyr.    Spikelets  one-flowered,  densely 
clothed   with    long  silky  hairs.      Empty  glumes   mem- 
branaceous,    narrow,   the   two    outer   with    long    hairs. 
Flowering  glume  small.     Stamens   1-2.     Stigmas  long, 
exserted  from  the  point  of  the  spikelet. 

Species  five,  throughout  the  tropical  and  sub-trop- 
ical zones,  also  in  warm  temperate  countries.  /.  arundi- 
nacea  Cyr.  is  cosmopolitan  in  its  several  varieties.  It 
forms  the  principal  grass  of  the  Alang  Alang  fields 
in  the  Malay  Archipelago,  and  furnishes  material  for 
thatching  roofs. 

10.  (74)  Miscanthus  Andersson.     Distinguished  from 
the  preceding  by  the  broad  panicle,  three  stamens,  and 
the    flowering   glumes  more  or  less   bifid  and   usually 
awned   between   the  teeth  or  lobes.      Tall,    the    ample 
panicles  terminal  and  usually  silky  hairy,  rarely  naked. 

Species  six,  in  Southern  and  Eastern  Asia  to  Amur. 
M.  Sinensis  Anders.  (Utdalia  Japonica  Trin.)  with  awued 
spikelets,  is  a  favorite  ornamental  grass,  as  also  is  the 
more  rare  M.  sacchariftorus  Hack.  (Imperata  sacchariftora 
Maxim.)  with  awnless  spikelets,  from  Amur. 

11.  (75)  Saccharum  L.    Panicles  usually  expanded,  the 
branches  (racemes)  many-jointed.     Spikelets  slender,  the 


50  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

somewhat  hardened  first  and  second  empty  glumes  with 
long  hairs  (especially  on  the  callus).  Third  empty  glume 
(often  0)  as  well  as  the  flowering  glume  and  short  palea 
hyaline.  Anthers  three.  Tall  grasses,  usually  with  narrow 
leaves  ;  the  small  spikelets  surrounded  by  long  silky  hairs. 

Species  twelve,  mostly  in  the  tropics  of  the  Old 
World,  only  three  (forming  Sec.  II)  in  America. 

Sec.  I.  Spikelets  all  $ .  Panicles  expanded,  axis  of 
racemes  articulate.  To  this  section  belongs  S.  officina- 
rum  L.  (Sugar-cane)  (Fig.  13),  which  has  a  culm  2-4  m. 
high,  2-5  cm.  thick,  with  very  juicy  pith ;  leaves  long,  2—4 
cm.  broad ;  panicles  40-80  cm.  long,  pyramidal,  and  the 
third  empty  glume  wanting.  Native  country  not  known, 
probably  from  tropical  East  Asia,  but  now  cultivated  in  all 
tropical  countries,  especially  in  South  America,  and  also 
in  South  Spain.  In  many  countries,  especially  in  the 
islands  of  the  Pacific  Ocean,  it  readily  becomes  spon- 
taneous, and  when  this  is  the  case  it  blossoms.  For 
culture  varieties  are  chosen  which  have  been  reproduced 
for  centuries  by  cuttings,  and  consequently  have  become 
nearly  incapable  of  blooming.  To  propagate  sugar-cane 
it  is  sufficient  to  place  a  piece  of  the  culm  possessing 
buds  at  its  nodes,  in  a  hole  or  furrow  in  the  ground, 
where  it  will  root  rapidly  if  sufficiently  moist. 

The  different  cultivated  varieties  are  distinguished 
almost  entirely  by  the  color  and  height  of  the  culm. 
The  expressed  juice  or  sap  yields  17  to  18  per  cent  sac- 
charose (crystallizable  sugar),  and  the  uucrystallizable 
molasses  that  remains  is  used  for  the  manufacture  of 
rum.  In  many  countries  the  fresh  culms  are  sold  for 
chewing.  At  present  the  colonial  sugar  industry  is 
somewhat  on  the  decline,  a  condition  to  which  the  manu- 
facture of  beet-sugar  and  the  attacks  of  certain  insects 
(Tortrix  sacclmriphfiga,  Coccus  sacchari)  have  contributed. 
S.  spontaneum  L.  with  narrower  leaves  and  a  developed 
third  empty  glume  is  found  from  Sicily  (where  it  is  also 
cultivated  as  a  hedge  plant)  through  the  tropics  of  the 
Old  World,  and  is  a  component  of  the  Alang  Alaiig  fields 
of  Sunda  Islands  (Malayan  Archipelago),  and  of  the  grass- 
bars  of  the  Upper  Nile. 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND   GENERA. 


Sec.  II.  Sclerostachya.  Like  Sec.  I.,  but  the  axis  of 
the  raceme  is  continuous.  Spikelets  all  pedicellate. 
Species  one,  in  Asia. 

Sec.  III.  Eriochrysis  (Beauv.  as  a  genus).  Pedicellate 
spikelets  ? ,  smaller ;  panicle  compact,  interrupted ; 
axis  articulate.  Species  four,  in  South  America  and 
Cape  of  Good  Hope. 

Sec.  IV.  Leptosaccharum.  Spikelets  single  along  the 
axis  of  the  raceme.  Eachis  not  articulate.  Species  one, 
in  South  America. 

12.  (76)  Erianthus  Michx.    (Ripidium  Trin.).     Differs 
from  Saccltarum  only  by  the  awned  spikelets.     Reed-like, 
narrow-leaved     grasses    with 

the  usually  expanded  panicles 
clothed  with  silky  hairs. 

Species  seventeen,  in  the 
warmer  countries  of  both 
hemispheres.  One  species  (E. 
Ravennce,  Beauv.)  extends  as 
far  north  as  upper  Italy. 
Also  cultivated  for  ornament. 
(Fig.  14.) 

13.  (78)  Pollinia  Trin.    Ra- 
cemes   usually   digitate,    sel- 
dom   arranged    in     panicles. 
First     and       second     empty 
glumes  chartaceous  or  mem- 
branaceous,  the  third  hyaline. 
Flowering       glumes      awned 
from    the    point   or    from     a 
notch.      Awns      twisted      or 
geniculate,  very  rarely  0. 

Species  thirty -two,  in  the 
tropical  and  sub-tropical  re- 
gions of  the  Old  World. 

Sec.  I.  Eulalia  (Kunth  as 
a  genus).  Spikelets  clothed 
with  silky  hairs.  Leaves  nar- 
row-linear. 

Sec.  II.  Leptatherum  (Nees  as  a  genus,  Nemastachys 


FIG.  14. — Erianthus  Ravennce  Beauv. 
(After  Nees,  Gen.  Germ.  I.  90.  A, 
Branch  of  the  panicle.) 


52  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

Steud.,  Microstegium  Nees).  Spikelets  slightly  liairy, 
usually  only  upon  the  callus,  rarely  upon  the  keel. 
Leaves  lanceolate,  much  narrowed  at  the  base. 

14.  (77)  Spodiopogon  Trin.     Racemes  with  long  pedi- 
cels, usually  with  only  two  to  three  pairs  of  spikelets  ; 
first  empty  glume  keelless,  strongly  5-9-nerved.     Spike- 
lets  somewhat  laterally  compressed,  awned  from  a  deep 
notch  in  the  flowering  glume. 

Species  five,  in  Asia  Minor,  Hiudostan,  China, 
Amur,  and  Japan. 

15.  (77o)  Polytrias  Hack.     A  low,  prostrate  grass  with 
shining,    red-brown,  hairy  racemes,  each   joint   of   the 
rachis  bearing  two  sessile  and  one  pedicellate  spikelet. 
Flowering  glumes  with  a  terminal  awn. 

Species  one  (P.  prcemorsa  Hack.),  in  Java. 

16.  (79)  Pogonatherum     Beauv.      (Homoplitis     Trin.). 
Spikelets  very  small,  the  second  empty  glume  and  the 
flowering  glume  with  long  delicate  awns.     Anthers  two. 
Delicate  grasses. 

Species  two,  in  the  East  Indies  ;  one  (P.  saccharoideum 
Beauv.)  extends  to  Japan. 

3.  SUB-TRIBE  Rottbcellieae. 
Joints  of  the  rachis  and  the  spikelets  usually  naked. 

17.  (86)  Ratzeburgia  Kunth.     Racemes  (false  spikes) 
linear,  flattened.     Joints  of   the  rachis    curved   above ; 
first  empty  glume  reticulately  ribbed. 

Species  one  (R.  pidcherrima  Kuuth),  on  the  river 
Irawaddi. 

18.  (84)  Rottbcellia    L.     False    spikes    cylindrical  or 
slightly    compressed ;    first   empty    glume    coriaceous, 
covering   the   excavation  in   the   rachis-joint ;  spikelets 
awnless. 

A  polymorphous  genus  with  the  following  sub- 
genera  : 

Sub-genus  I.  Coelorhachis  (Brongn.  as  a  genus, 
Stegosia  Lour.).  Racemes  solitary  and  terminal  upon 
the  culm  and  its  branches,  articulate  and  joints  read- 
ily separating ;  joints  of  the  rachis  hollow  at  the  apex, 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND   GENERA. 


53 


free,  rarely  grown  to  the  pedicels  of  the  lateral  spikelets  ; 
spikelets  usually  one-flow- 
ered, the  pedicellate  and 
sessile  ones  alike,  the 
former  rarely  rudiment- 
ary. 

Species  twenty,  in  the 
tropics  of  both  hemi- 
spheres. 

Sub-genus  II.  Ophiu- 
rns  (Gartn.  as  a  genus). 
Resembling  Sub-genus  I, 
but  the  lateral  spikelets 

are  absent  or  rudimentary,  vm.w.-itottbaittia  loricata  Trin.  (After 
and  their  pedicels   grown     Mart  et  Eichl"  " Flora  Bras'"  n' IIL) 
to  the  rachis ;  sessile  spikelets  one-flowered. 

Species  four,  in  the  tropics  of  the  Old  World.  In  0. 
Icevis  Benth.  (Mnesithea  Kunth,  Thyridostachyum  Nees) 
there  are  frequently  sessile  spikelets,  in  pairs,  upon  the 
lower  portion  of  the  false  spike.  Ophiurus  may  be  cor- 
rectly considered  as  an  independent  genus. 

Sub-genus  III.  Hemartliria  (Brown  as  a  genus).  Re- 
sembling Sub-genus  I,  but  the  false  spikes  are  more 
compressed,  not  imperfectly  articulate,  and  joints  of  the 
rachis  hollow  at  the  apex.  Lateral  spikelets  formed 
like  the  one-flowered  sessile  spikelets,  their  pedicels 
usually  grown  to  the  rachis-joints  so  that  the  spikelets 
appear  to  be  in  pairs. 

Species  three,  in  warm  countries  extending  beyond  the 
tropics  as  far  as  South  Europe  and  Tasmania. 

Sub-genus  IV.  Peltophorus  Desv.  (Manisuris  L.,  not 
Sw.).  Like  Sub-genus  III,  but  the  two  contiguous  ses- 
sile spikelets  are  very  unlike,  the  first  sterile  glume  of 
one  having  a  broad  margin  ("  bordered  on  each  side  at 
the  apex  by  a  membranous  wing" — Bentham) ;  joints  of 
the  axis  easily  separable,  with  two  appressed  cavities  at 
the  apex. 

Species  three,  in  India. 

Sub-genus  V.  Thyrsostachys.  False  spikes  in  a 
bushy  panicle.  First  empty  glume  of  the  sessile,  one 


54  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

flowered  spikelets  almost  inembranaceous,  coriaceous 
only  upon  the  edges. 

Species  one,  in  Khasya  Mountains. 

Sub-genus  VI.  Phacelurus  (Griseb.  as  a  genus).  False 
spikes  in  simple  racemes,  sessile,  rarely  solitaiy.  All 
spikelets  alike,  two-flowered. 

Species  three,  in  the  Orient,  Himalaya,  and  East  Asia. 

19.  (87)  Manisuris  Sw.    Sessile  spikelets  one-flowered, 
hollow-globose,  pitted  externally  ;  pedicellate  spikelets 
flat,  $  ,  or  empty,  their  pedicels  grown  to  the  rachis. 

Species  one  (M.  granularls  Sw.),  with  leaves  cordate 
at  the  base.  A  weed  in  all  tropical  countries. 

20.  Rhytachne  Desv.     Axis  of  the  false  spike  articu- 
late, easily  separable  at  the  joints  whose  ends  are  at  right 
angles  to  the  axis  and  without  appendages.     First  empty 
glume  of  the  sessile  spikelets  rugose  and  with  one  or 
two  terminal  points  or  tails.     Pedicellate  spikelets  rudi- 
mentary, awned. 

Sub-genus  I.  Eurytachne.  False  spikes  terminal  and 
solitary. 

Species  two,  in  tropical  Africa ;  one  of  them  said  to 
occur  upon  the  Antilles. 

Sub-genus  II.  Jardinea  (Steud.  as  a  genus).  False 
spikes,  several,  in  a  simple  raceme,  pedicellate. 

Species  two,  in  tropical  Africa. 

21.  Urelytrum  Hack.     Axis  of  the  false  spike  articu- 
late, easily  breaking  into  joints  whose  ends  are  oblique 
and   provided  with .  -an    appendage    at  the    upper   end. 
First  empty  glume  of  the  sessile  spikelets  smooth,  awn- 
less. 

Species  two,  in  tropical  Africa  to  Natal. 

22.  (89)  Vossia  Wall.  &  Griff.     False  spikes  digitate, 
stout,  compressed.     Kachis-joiuts  curved,  notched,  not 
excavated.     First  empty  glume  of  the  sessile  spikelets 
smooth,  and  like  the  pedicellate  produced  into  a  long 
straight  point  or  awn  1.5  to  2  cm.  long. 

Species  one  (V.  procera  Wall.  &  Griff.),  a  tall,  aquatic 
grass,  frequently  floating.  In  western  India,  and  in  tropi- 
cal Africa,  where  it  occurs  in  the  swampy  lands  of  the 
Upper  Nile,  forming,  in  company  with  Saccharum  spon- 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA. 


55 


.,  the  vast  floating  grass-bars  which  frequently 
make  navigation  impossible. 

4.  SUB-TRIBE  Ischaemeae. 

23.  (90)  Thelepogon  Both  (fihiniachne  Hochst.).     Ra- 
cemes digitate.     Rachis  flexuose,  joints  notched.     First 
empty   glume   tuberculate.     Flowering   glume  strongly 
awned  from  the  notch. 

Species  one  ( Th.  elegans  Roth),  in  India  and  Abyssinia. 

24.  (91)   Ischgemum   L.    (Fig.    16).     Racemes   two   to 
many,    digitate,    rarely  solitary.     Spikelets    broad,   the 
pedicellate   like    the   sessile,   but   frequently  unawned, 


FIG.  16.—  Ischcemum  Urvilleanum  Kunth.    (After  Mart,  et  Eichl.,  "  Flora  Bras,"  II, 
III,  re.) 

rarely  $  or  empty.  First  empty  glume  coriaceous  or 
membranaceous,  obtuse,  often  two-toothed.  Flowering 
glume  awned  from  the  apex  or  a  notch.  Mostly  low 
grasses  with  rather  broad  leaves.  t 

Species  thirty -four,  chiefly  in  Southern  Asia  and 
Australia,  very  few  in  America  and  Africa. 

Sec.  I.  Meoschium  (Beauv.  as  a  genus,  Colladoa  Cav., 
Ischcemopogon  Griseb.).  Racemes  .two  to  many. 

Sec.  II.  Sehima  (Forsk.  as  a  genus)  (Hologamium 
Nees).  Racemes  solitary. 

25.  (89)  Eremochloa  Base  non  Watson  (Pectinaria 
Benth.  as  a  section).  Racemes  solitary,  densely  flow- 
ered, unilateral.  Spikelets  broad,  awnless.  Delicate, 
ornamental  grasses. 


56  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

Species  six,  in  East  Indies. 

26.  (80)  Apocopis     Nees     (Amblyachyrum      Hochst.). 
Racemes  in  pairs  (often  having  the  appearance  of  being 
single).     Spikelets  crowded,  the  lowest  sessile,  &  ,  aAvu- 
less,  the  upper  $  ,  awned.     Stamens  two.     Delicate,  low 
grasses. 

Species  three  or  four,  in  East  India,  China,  and  the 
islands  of  the  Malayan  Archipelago. 

27.  Lophopogon  Hack.     Spikes  in  pairs,  appressed  to- 
gether, clothed  with  shining,  rusty-brown  hairs  ;  spikelets 
crowded.     (Characters   in    the    key.)     A   low,    delicate 
grass  with  narrow  leaves. 

Species  one  (L.  tridentatus  Hack.),  in  western  India. 

28.  (98)  Apluda  L.     Racemes  minute,  enclosed  in  the 
sheaths,  fascicled  ;  fascicles  in  false  panicles  interspersed 
with  numerous  leaves.     Callus  of  the  sessile  spikelets 
spherical,  both  the  other  spikelets  (one  $  and  one  rudi- 
mentary) upon  broad,  flat  pedicels. 

Species  one  (A.  varia  Hack.),  Avith  many  varieties 
(spikelets  awned  or  awnless),  in  East  Indies,  China,  and 
Australia. 

5    SUB-TRIBE  Euandropogoneae. 

29.  (92)  Trachypogon    Nees.      The    long,  pedicellate 
spikelet  of  every  pair  $ ,  with  a  long  stout  awn ;  the  $ 
spikelet  subsessile,  awnless.     Racemes  solitary  or  two 
or  three  together,  often  clothed  with  silky  hairs. 

Species  one  ( T.  polymorphm  Hack.),  in  tropical  and 
subtropical  America,  Southern  Africa,  and  Madagascar. 

30.  (83)  Elionurus  Humb.  &  Bonpl.     Axis  of  the  soli- 
tary raceme  obliquely  articulate,  densely  hairy.     First 
empty  glume  bifid  or  two-lobed,  fringed  ;  spikelets  with 
a  strong  balsam-like  odor  when  fresh  or  after  soaking  in 
water,   and   burning   the    tongue    when  chewed.     [Two 
species  within  the  limits  of  the  United  States,  viz.,  E. 
tripsacoides  H.B.K.  (Rottbcettia  ciliata  Nutt.)  and  E.  bar- 
biculmis  Hack.     (Wright,  No.  2106).] 

Species  fifteen,  mostly  in  tropical  and  subtropical 
America,  some  in  Africa,  western  India,  and  Aus- 
tralia. Savanna  grasses,  rejected  by  cattle.  (The 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA.  57 

strong  balsamic  products  in  these  grasses  may  protect 
them  from  being  exterminated  by  grass-eating  animals.) 

31.  (82)  Arthraxon  Beauv.  (Pleuroplitis  Trin.,  Batlira- 
Utmi.m  Nees,  Luccea  Kunth,  Alectoridia  Rich.,  Psilopogoa 
Hochst.,Lasiolytrum  Steud.).     Racemes  usually  digitate, 
delicate,  often  becoming  true  spikes  by  the  abortion  of 
the  $  spikelet    together    with    its    pedicel.      Spikelets 
awned,  very  rarely  awnless.     Delicate  grasses. 

Species  nine,  in  the  tropics  of  the  Old  World ;  one 
extends  to  Japan,  China,  and  Asia  Minor. 

32.  (94)  Andropogon  L.     Racemes  solitary  or  in  pairs, 
digitate  or  panicled,  occasionally  reduced  to  a  few  joints 
or  to  the  terminal  joint  with  three  spikelets.     Rachis 
and    callus   of    the   first   empty   glume    usually  hairy. 
Spikelets  usually  narrow,  the  pedicellate  $  ,  empty,  or 
reduced  to  the  pedicel,  its  flowering  glume  awnless,  but 
the  first  empty  glume  occasionally  awned.     Palea  fre- 
quently small  or  0. 

A  polymorphous  genus,  spread  over  all  parts  of  the 
world  in  the  tropical  and  temperate  zones ;  the  species 
prefer  dry  places,  especially  savannas.  The  numerous 
sub-genera  form  two  distinct  series. 

Series  A.  Isozygi.  The  sessile  spikelets  of  the  lowest 
pairs  in  each  raceme  like  those  above  as  regards  sex, 
form,  and  awns. 

Sub-genus  I.  Schizachyrium  (Nees  as  a  genus).  Ra- 
cemes slender,  solitary,  usually  smooth,  terminal  upon 
the  culm  or  its  branches,  the  thickened  joints  of  the 
rachis  with  a  cup-  or  tooth-like  appendage  at  the  apex. 
Flowering  glume  often  cleft  nearly  to  the  base,  awned 
from  between  the  divisions  ;  second  empty  glume  awnless. 

Species  twenty-seven,  in  the  tropics,  especially  of 
America,  and  as  far  north  as  New  England  (e.g.,  A. 
scoparius  Mich.). 

Sub-genus  II.  Diectomis  (Humb.  &  Bonpl.  as  a 
genus).  Like  Sub-genus  I,  but  the  spikelets  laterally 
compressed,  the  second  empty  glume  awned,  the  flower- 
ing glume  slightly  notched  at  the  point. 

Species  one,  in  tropical  countries. 

Sub-genus  III.    Hypogynium  (Nees  as  a  genus).    Ra- 


58 


THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 


cemes  solitary,  terminal  upon  the  branches  and  culm, 
subtended  by  sheathing  leaves.  Rachis  slender,  with- 
out appendages ;  flowering  glume  awned  from  the  point 
or  from  a  narrow  slit,  or  awnless. 

Species  five,  scattered  through  the  tropics  (A.  spathi- 
florus  Kunth  from  Paraguay  to  Cuba). 

Sub-genus  IV.  Anaddphia  (Hack,  as  a  genus).  Like 
the  preceding,  but  only  a  part  or  none  of  the  sessile,  $ 
spikelets  are  accompanied  by  $  ones. 

Species  one,  in  tropical  Western  Africa. 
Sub-genus  V.     Arthrolophis  (EuEastaxon  Steud.  as  a 
genus).     Racemes    mostly   in    pairs,   rarely  digitate   or 
panicled,  the  lateral  ones  sessile  ; 
joints    of    the    rachis    somewhat 
thickened,        not         translucent. 
Flowering  glume  usually  bifid  or 
two-toothed. 

Species  fifty,  the  majority 
American  (A.  Virginicus  L. 
["Broom  Sedge"]  and  its  allies, 
A.  provincialis  Lam.,  etc.). 

Sub-genus  VI.  Amphilophis. 
Racemes  digitate  or  panicled,  all 
pedicellate.  Rachis-joiuts  and 
pedicels  witli  a  median,  longitudi- 
nal, translucent  line.  Flowering 
glume  pedicel-like,  tapering  into 
an  awn. 

Species  fifteen,  mostly  of  the 
Old  World.  A.  Ischwmum  L. 
(Fig.  17)  of  ('(Mitral  Europe  and 

tWW/JT       Asia,  and   A.  xaccharoides  S\v.  of 
%    ^jmJK\        America,  belong  here. 
Sub-genus     VII.     Sorghum 
L-        WJwl  (Pers.   as   a  genus,  Blumeiibachia 

Kol.).     Racemes  in  panicles,  fre- 

Fio.  17.—Andropogon      Ischce- 

Germ  'i   s»f)%  ^pai^of  quent;l.y  w^n  few  (sometimes  only 
spikelets.'  one)    fertile     spikelets.     Rachis- 

joints  without  a  translucent  line,  empty  glume  usually 
broad-lanceolate,  finally  indurated  and  shining. 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA.  59 

Species  thirteen,  A.  arundinaceus  Scop.  (A.  Halapensis 
Sibtli.)  (Fig.  18)  with  a  compound  panicle,  2-5  spikelets 
in  each  raceme,  and  fringed  lodicules.  Scattered  in 
many  varieties  over  the  torrid  and  warm  temperate 
countries.  This  is  probably  the  original  form  of  the 
cultivated  Sorghum  or  Black  Millet  races  (A.  Sorghum 
Brot.).  In  these  the  fruit  and  spikelets  are.  usually 
larger  and  rounder,  and  the  rachis  is  not  articulate. 
The  most  important  are  variety  saccJiaratus  (Sorghum 
saccharatum  Pers.),  Sugar  Sorghum,  panicles  looser  with 
drooping  branches  and  red-brown  spikelets ;  var.  technicu-s, 
like  the  preceding,  but  the  branches  very  long,  exceed- 
ing the  shortened  main  axis ;  var.  vulgaris  (S.  vulgare 
Pers.),  with  more  compact  panicles  and  light-colored 
obovate  spikelets ;  var.  niger,  like  the  preceding,  but 
with  black  spikelets ;  var.  cernuus  (S.  cernuum  Host.), 
like  vulgaris,  but  the  culm  is  bent  or  recurved  just  below 
the  panicle  ;  var.  Durra,  with .  more  condensed  panicles 
and  deltoid  spikelets,  etc.  The  culture  of  Sorghum 
probably  had  its  origin  in  Africa,  where  "  Durra,"  as  it 
is  called  there,  is  now  cultivated  over  the  entire  con- 
tinent, and  has  become  the  most  important  cereal. 
The  natives  also  chew  the  stem,  which  contains  sugar. 
It  is  also  considerably  cultivated  in  India  and  China. 
In  Europe  it  is  raised  less  for  bread  than  for  mechanical 
purposes  (especially  the  variety  technicus) ;  the  panicles 
are  made  into  the  so-called  "  rice  brooms,"  and  into 
brushes,  etc.  Italy,  South  France,  and  North  America 
furnish  the  raw  material  in  great  quantity.  In  Ger- 
many, Sorghum,  like  Maize,  is  only  occasionally  raised 
for  green  fodder.  In  North  America  sugar  is  also  made 
from  the  culms,  and  for  this  purpose  the  variety  called 
Sugar  Sorghum  (S.  saccharatum)  is  used  less  than  cer- 
tain kinds  of  the  variety  vulgaris.  In  South  Europe 
these  industries  may  develop  in  the  future.  From  the 
fruit  the  Caffirs  make  "TiaUva"  and  the  negroes  "Merisa," 
alcoholic  drinks.  The  fruiting  glumes  contain  useful 
coloring  matters. 

Sub-genus  VIII.     Vetiveria  (Virey  as  a  genus).     Ra- 


60 


THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 


FIG.  IS.- 


m  Brot.    A,  the  original  form  (A.  Hnlnpensis  Sihth  ). 

;  after  Reicheub  '  Ic-  im-  D>  ^  and  '•  var- 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA.  61 

cemes  very  many,  in  whorls  upon  slender  pedicels  ;  these 
are  arranged  above  one  another,  forming  a  panicle. 

Species  two.  A.  squarrosus  L.,  fil.  (A.  muricatus 
Betz.,  Anatherum  muricatum  Beauv.).  Spikelets  small, 
narrow;  empty  glumes  cartilaginous,  beset  with  small 
spines.  Swamp  plants,  called  in  India  "  Khushus"  or 
"  Bena,"  in  the  French  colonies  "  Yetives."  [Introduced 
in  Louisiana,  where  it  has  become  spontaneous.]  The 
rhizome  is  very  aromatic.  In  India  the  whole  plant  is 
used  in  making  the  "  Vessaries,"  or  broad  fan-screens, 
which  when  kept  wet  and  placed  in  a  current  of  air, 
cool  and  at  the  same  time  perfume  the  heated  atmos- 
phere of  a  room.  When  laid  among  clothing  the  rhizome 
keeps  it  free  from  insects.  In  European  drug  stores  it 
is  known  as  Radix  Anatheri  or  R.  Vetiverice,  a  stimulant 
or  antiseptic.  It  is  also  used  in  perfumery  (Vitivert). 

Sub-genus  IX  .  Chrysopogon  (Triii.  as  a  genus  ;  Rhapliis 
Lour.).  Bacemes  whorled,  pedicellate,  usually  reduced 
to  one  or  two  terminal  joints.  Spikelets  somewhat 
laterally  compressed. 

Species  twelve  (A.  Gryllus  in  S.  Europe  and  Asia, 
etc.),  with  one  exception  (A.  pauciflorus  =  Sorghum  pauci- 
florum  Chapm.)  from  the  Old  World. 

Series  B.  Heterozygi.  Sessile  spikelet  of  the  lowest 
pair  or  of  several  of  the  lower  pairs  (at  least  in  one  or 
two  racemes)  differs  from  the  upper  pairs  in  sex  and 
awns,  or  is  empty. 

Sub-genus  X.  Dichanthium  (Willemet  as  a  genus,  Le- 
peocercis  Triii.).  Bacemes  usually  three  to  many,  digitate, 
all  pedicellate  or  all  sessile,  not  subtended  by  a  leaf- 
sheath.  Flowering  glume  usually  stalk-like. 

Species  ten,  in  the  tropics  of  the  Old  World,  two  of 
them  (A.  piptatherus  Hack.,  A.  Neesii  Kunth)  also  in 
America. 

Sub-genus  XI.  Cymbopogon  (Spreng.  as  a  genus).  Ba- 
cemes in  pairs,  terminal  upon  the  culm  or  its  branches, 
one  sessile,  always  with  1-2  basal  homogamous  pairs 
(of  2  $  spikelets),  the  other  short  pedicelled  with  or 
without  homogamous  pairs,  both  together  subtended  by 
a  sheathing  leaf,  frequently  arranged  in  a  false  panicle 


THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 


interrupted  by  leaves.  Flowering  glume  usually  two- 
toothed,  strongly  awned.  About  forty  species  in  the 
tropics  of  the  Old  World  (very  few  in  America).  Pre- 
dominating grasses  of  the  savannas  of  tropical  Africa. 
A.  Nardus  L.  (Fig.  19),  in  Ceylon  and  Hindostan,  also 


FIG.  19.— Andropogon  Nardus  L.    (After  Bentley  et  Trimen,  "  Medicinal  Plants.") 

cultivated,  has  very  large  panicles,  and  is  in  all  parts, 
especially  the  spikelets,  rich  in  a  volatile  oil,  which 
when  distilled  is  known  in  commerce  as  Citronella  oil ; 
the  closely  related  A.  Schcenanthus  L.,  distinguished  by 
a  longitudinal  furrow  in  the  lower  third  of  the  first 
empty  glume,  is  the  source  of  Lemon-grass  oil.  Both 
are  used  as  stimulants  and  anti-spasmodics  for  neuralgia 
and  rheumatism,  and  are  also  employed  in  the  adultera- 
tion of  oil  of  roses.  One  variety  of  A.  Schoenanthus  is 
highly  valued  by  the  negroes  for  stopping  hemorrhages. 
A.  laniger  Desf.,  from  North  Africa  to  India,  furnishes 
Herbn  Schoenanthi  or  Junci  odorati,  and  A.  Iivarancusa 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA. 

Blane,  is  in  use  in  India  as  a  medicine  for  cholera. 
From  the  related  A.  refractus  Brown,  the  Tahiti  ilsanders 
prepare  a  cosmetic  oil  ("  rnonoi  ").  Exotheca  Andersson 
also  belongs  to  this  sub-genus. 

Sub-genus  XII.  Heteropogon  (Persoon  as  a  genus). 
Racemes  solitary  and  terminal  upon  the  culm  or  its 
branches  ;  spikelets  imbricated,  the  first  to  fifth  pairs 
homogamous ;  awns  large,  and  those  of  all  the  spikelets 
often  entangled  together  ;  $  or  ?  spikelets  with  a  pointed 
callus. 

Species  five,  in  the  tropics,  one  of  which  (A.  contortus 
L.)  is  cosmopolitan  as  far  north  as  South  Europe  and 
North  America.  The  fruiting  glumes  of  these  species 
easily  bore  into  the  skin  and 
flesh  of  sheep  by  means  of  their 
pointed  callus,  and  are  thus  a 
source  of  injury,  especially  in 
Australia.  The  awns  may  serve 
as  hygrometers. 

33.  (97)  Themeda  Forsk.  (An- 
thistiria  L.  fil.,  Androscepla 
Brongn.,  Heterelytrum  Jungh., 
Perobachne  Presl).  The  racemes 
are  united  into  false  panicles ; 
they  appear  like  a  fascicle  of 
7-11  spikelets.  Occupying  the 
middle  of  the  racemes  are  1-3, 
loug-awned,  $  spikelets;  near 
these  and  in  a  false  whorl  at 
the  base  are  the  unawned  $ 
spikelets  ;  the  whole  included  in 
a  foliaceous  bract. 

Species  nine,  in  the  warmer 
countries  of  the  Old  World. 
Th.  Forskalii  Hack.  (Anthistiria 
tiliata  of  authors,  not  of  L.  fil.) 
(Fig.  20)  from  Syria  and  Algeria 

to  Cape  Of  Good  Hope  and  TaS-    FIG.  M.-Themeda     Forskalii 
.  _.,   .      .       .,  -„  Hack.     (After    Andersson,  Mo- 

mania.     This  is  the  "  Kangaroo     nogr.,  Androp.  pi.  3.) 
grass"  of  the  Australian  farmer,  often  almost  exclusively 


64  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

covering  wide-extending  plains  and  mountain  slopes  in 
Australia  and  South  Africa. 

34.  (97  §)  Germainea  Balansa  &  Poitrass.   Inflorescence 
terminal,  clustered,  consisting  of  three  central  ?  ,  loiig- 
awned,  one-flowered    spikelets,    and  of  6-9  $  ,  awnless, 
two-flowered  ones. 

Species  one  (G.  capitata  Bal.  &  Poitr.),  from  Saigon 
to  South  China  and  the  Khasiya  Mts. 

35.  (97  §)  Iseilema  Anderss.     Like  Themeda,  but  more 
delicate.     (For  characters,  see  Key.) 

Species  three,  in  India,  one  in  Australia.     (I.  Wrightii 
Anderss.  has  a  scent  like  bedbugs.) 

36.  (59)  Cleistachne  Benth.     Resembling  Sorghum  in 
its  habit  and  the  hard  empty  glume,  but  without  lateral 

$  spikelets  or  their  pedicels.     Awns  of  the  fertile  glume 
terminal,  stout. 

Species  two,  one  in  the  East  Indies,  one  in  tropical 
Africa. 

TRIBE  III. — ZOYSIEJE. 

Spikelets  solitary  or  in  groups,  usually  one-flowered, 
the  flowering   glume   always  awnless,  membranaceous ; 
the  empty  glumes  of  firmer  texture  and  frequently  awned. 
Rachis   continuous.     Otherwise  as  in  Andropogonece. 
A.  Spikelets  in  groups  of  from  three  to  several  at  each  joint 

of  the  main  axis  ;  each  group  fatting  off  entire. 

a.  Spikes  in  pairs,  articulate ;  spikelets  7-8  together. 

37.  Trachys. 

b.  Spikes  or  racemes  solitary,  continuous,  terminat- 
ing the  culm  or  its  branches. 

a.  Spikelets  3-4  together,  each  group  surrounded 
by  an  indurated,  pitcher-shaped  pseudo-invo- 
lucre formed  by  the  first  empty  glume  of  each 

spikelet 38.  Anthephora. 

ft.  Groups  of  spikelets  without  an  involucre. 

I.  Uppermost  spikelet  of  each  group  sterile. 
Second  empty  glume  coriaceous,  with 
hooked  spines  on  the  back.  .  41.  Tragus. 
II.  Lowest  spikelet  of  each  group  sterile, 
terminal  one  fertile,  one-flowered  with 
delicate  glumes 40.  JEgopogon 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND   GENERA.  65 

III.  Two  outer  spikelets  $  ,  two-flowered  ;  one 
inner  $  ,  one-flowered.  .     .     .     39.  Hilaria. 
B.  Spikelets  solitary,  very  rarely  two  upon  each  internod,e  of 
the  rachis. 

a.  Empty  glumes    three,  the  third  often  having  the 
function  of  the  flowering  glume  of  a  $  flower. 

44.  Neurachne. 

b.  Empty  glumes   two,  these  much  longer  than  the 
flowering  glume. 

a.  Both  empty  glumes  with  hooked  spines  upon- 

the  back,  awnless 42.  Latipes. 

/?.  Both  empty  glumes  with  a  fringed  crest  upon 

the  back,  awnless 43.  Lopholepis. 

y.  Both  empty  glumes  smooth. 

I.  Empty  glumes  with  long  awns.    45.  Perotis. 
II.  Empty  glumes  subulate,  awnless. 

46.  Leptothrium. 

c.  Empty  glume  one. 

a.  Empty  glume  coriaceous,  acute,  awnless. 

47.  Zoysia. 
ft.  Empty  glume  with  3-5  awns.  .     48.  Schaffnera. 

37.  (64)  Trachys  Pers.  (Trachyozus  Keichb.,   Trachys- 
tachys  Dietr.).     The  outer  spikelets  of   the  clusters  $  , 
the  inner  1-3  £  ;  the  third  glume  very  large,  coriaceous, 
all  the  others  much  smaller. 

Species  one  ( T.  mucronata  Pers.),  on  the  sea  shores  of 
western  India. 

38.  (63)  Anthephora  Schreb.  (Fig.  21).    Eachis  strongly 
flexuose,  spikelets  fitting  exactly  into  the  curves  in  the 
joints.    Pseudo-involucre  below  with  3-5  deep  incisions  ; 
all  spikelets  £  ,  awnless. 

Species  five  ;  one  in  tropical  America,  the  others  in 
tropical  and  southern  Africa. 

39.  (60)  Hilaria  Kunth  (Hexarrhena  Presl,  Pleuraphis 
Torr.).     Empty  glumes  of  the  £  spikelets  two-cleft,  with 
one  to  several  awns,  those  of  the  $  spikelets  very  obtuse, 
short  awned  or  awnless.     Flowering  glume  awnless  or 
mucronate-pointed. 

Species  five,  from  Central  America  to  California  and 
Texas. 


66  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

40.  (61)  JEgopogon.    Humb.  &  Bonpl.  (Hymenothteium 
Lag.,  Schettingia  Steud.).      Fascicles  of  spikelets  secund 
along  a  delicate  axis,  finally  pendent.     Spikelets  small, 
usually  awned. 

Species  two,  from  Brazil  to  California. 

41.  (65)  Tragus  (Fig.  22).     The  3-5  spikelets  of  each 
fascicle  somewhat  divergent.     First  empty  glume  minute, 
sometimes  wanting ;  the  second  large,  beset  with  hook- 


FIG.  21.  —  Anthephora  elegana 
Schreb.  L,  Involucre.  (After 
Mart,  et  Eichl.,  Fl.  br.  II.  III. 
pi.  44.) 


FIG.  22. — Tragus  racemosus   Hall. 
(After  Nees,  Gen.  Germ.,  I.  28.) 


like  spines.  Flowering  glume  and  palea  smaller  and 
smooth. 

Species  (or  varieties)  two.  Low,  branching  weeds, 
in  all  warm  countries.  [Introduced  about  Philadelphia, 
Mobile,  etc.]  The  fruiting  glume  readily  adheres  to  the 
wool  and  hair  of  animals. 

42.  (66)  Latipes  Kunth.  Spikelets  curved,  very  spiny, 
solitary  or  in  pairs  upon  a  very  broad  and  flat  pedicel, 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA.  67 

filially  bent  downwards,  and  together  with  the  pedicel 
they  easily  fall  off. 

Species  one  (L.  Senegalensis  Kunth),  from  Senegambia 
to  the  East  Indies  (Sciiide). 

43.  (67)  Lopholepis  Decne.  (HoUbcellia  Wall,  in  Hook. 
Misc.).     Spikelets  very  small,  resembling  a  bird's,  head. 
First  empty  glume  with  a  basal,  knob-like  protuberance 
(the  head),  then  suddenly  bending  outward  and  like  the 
second,  assuming  the  form  of  a  beak.     Delicate,  annual 
grasses. 

Species  one  (L.  ornithocephala  Decne.),  in  Hindostan. 

44.  (68)  Neurachne  Brown.    Spikes  elongated  or  short 
and  thick.     Second   empty  glume  largest  and   fringed 
within  the  edge.    Perennials  with  narrow  and  hard  leaves. 

Species  three,  in  Australia. 

45.  (69)  Perotis  Ait.  (Xystidium  Trin.).    Spikelets  nar- 
row, delicate,  very  long-awned,  standing  at  right  angles 
to  the  axis  of  the  long,  linear  spikes.     Leaves  short  and 
broad. 

Species  three,  in  the  tropics  of  the  Old  World. 

46.  (70)  Leptothrium    Kunth.      Empty    glumes    two, 
otherwise  like  the  next. 

Species  one  (L.  rigidum  Kunth),  in  the  warmer  por- 
tions of  America. 

47.  (71)  Zoysia    Willd.    (Matretta    Pers.,     Osterdamia 
Neck.).     Spikes  slender.      Spikelets  closely  appressed. 
Empty  glume  one,  compressed,  keeled,  coriaceous,  sur- 
rounding  the   flowering   glume   and   palea.      Creeping, 
maritime  grasses  with  rigid  aiid  frequently  sharp-pointed 
leaves. 

Species  2-3,  in  Southern  and  Eastern  Asia,  on  the 
Mascarene  Isles,  Australia,  and  New  Zealand. 

48.  (72)  Schaffnera  Benth.     Spikelets  not  in   spikes, 
but  disposed  in  clusters  in  the  axils  of  the  upper  leaf- 
sheaths.     Flowering  glume  with  a  single  awn.     A  low, 
anomalous  grass  of  very  doubtful  position. 

Species  one  (Sch.  Mexicana  Benth.),  in  Mexico. 


68  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 


TRIBE  IV. — TRISTEGINE.S:. 

Spikelets  all  $ ,  1-2-flowered,  in  panicled  racemes ; 
axis  continuous.  Empty  glumes  three,  the  third  some- 
times having  the  function  of  a  flowering  glume  of  a  $ 
flower.  Like  the  preceding  tribe,  this  forms  a  transition 
between  the  Andropogonece  and  Panicece.  All  tropical. 

A.  Flowering  glumes  of  the  Q  spikdets  aivned  ;  awns  usually 
geniculate  and  twisted  below.     .     .     .      49.  Arundinella. 

B.  Flowering  glume  awnless  (frequently,  hoivever,  the  1-3 
empty  glumes  are  awned). 

a.  First  empty  glume  very  small,  appressed  to   the 
one  above 50.  Melinis. 

b.  First  and  second  empty  glumes  very  small,  resem- 
bling minute  scales ;  spikelets  in  spikes. 

55.  Beckera! 

c.  First  empty  glume  half  as  large  as  the  second  and 
third,  all  awnless. 

a.  The  long  racemes  of  spikelets  in  distant  whorls 
along  a  common  axis.  .  .  .51.  Phaenosperma. 

/?.  The  short  racemes  of  spikelets  solitary  along 
the  main  axis 52.  Triscenia. 

d.  First  and   second  empty  glume  equal  in  length, 
half  as  long  as  the  third  and  the  flowering  glume, 
all  awnless ;  spikelets  minute.  .     54.  Thysanolsena. 

e.  First  empty  glume  subulate,  awn- like,  projecting 
beyond  the  others 53.  Arthropogon. 

NOTE.— Compare  Tricholcena  (Panfcw). 

49.  (51)  Arundinella   Eaddi  (Ooldbachia  Trin.,  Acra- 
therum  Link,  Thysanachne  Presl,  Brandtia  Kunth).  (Fig. 
23.)     Spikelets  pedicellate,  usually   in   pairs   upon   the 
branches   of   the   panicle,  pedicels   of   unequal    length. 
First  empty  glume  shorter  than  the  others,  the  second 
frequently   awned,   the  third  awnless,  usually  inclosing 
a  $  flower. 

Species  twenty-four,  mostly  in  the  tropical  regions 
of  the  Old  World,  a  few  in  South  America  [one  in  Mex- 
ico]. 

50.  (53)  Melinis   Beauv.       (Tristegis  Nees,   Suardia 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND   GENERA. 


Schrk.).     Spikelets  very  small,  elliptical,  naked;  third 
glume  usually  awned  ;   disposed 
in  somewhat  compact  panicles. 

Species  one  (M.  minutijlora 
Beauv.),  in  Brazil,  Ascension, 
Natal,  Madagascar.  In  Brazil 
it  is  called  "  Capimmellado"  on 
account  of  its  glutinous  proper- 
ties. It  is  prized  for  fodder  and 
is  even  cultivated. 

51.  (52)  Phsenosperma  Munro. 
Panicles      large,     branches     in 
whorls ;     caryopsis     projecting    -^ 
from  the  glumes  half  its  length. 

Species  one  (Ph.  globosa),  in 
China. 

52.  (54)  Triscenia  Griseb.     A 
grass   of   doubtful  relationship, 
on  account  of  the  small  embryo, 
having  nearly  the  same  habit  as 
Festuca    ovina.      Panicles    few- 
flowered.       Spikelets     one-flow- 
ered. 

Species   one   ( T.   ovina  Gri-  „ 

,    xr.       _.    ,  FIG.    23.— Arundtnella  Nepalensts 

Seb.),  in  Cuba.  Trin.    (After  Trin.,Spec.  Gr.  pi. 

53.  (55)    Arthropogon    Nees. 

Panicles  loose.     Empty  glumes  coriaceous,  the  second 
largest.     One  $  flower  in  the  axil  of  the  third  glume. 
Species  two  ;  one  in  Brazil,  the  other  in  Cuba. 

54.  (58)  Thysanolaena  Nees  ( Myriachceta  Zoll.).    Pani- 
cles very  large,  with  innumerable  minute  spikelets  in 
short  racemes.    Spikelets  as  in  Panicum,  but  the  flowering 
glume  is  delicate  and  fringed  with  hairs. 

Species  one  (Tk.  acarifera  Nees),  "Tiger  Grass,"  in 
tropical  Asia — a  troublesome  weed  among  cultivated 
plants  ;  2-4  m.  in  height. 

55.  (47)    Beckera    Fresen.       Spikelets    in    numerous 
spikes  in  the  axils  of  the  leaves.     Third  empty  glume 
with  a  long  straight  awn,  flowering  glume  awnless  or 


70  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

mucronate-pointed,  three-nerved  ;  palea  narrow,  hyaline, 
nerveless,  two-toothed. 

Species  three,  in  Abyssinia.     Position  of  the  genus 
doubtful. 


TRIBE  V.—  PANICEJE. 

Spikelets  one-  (or  occasionally  two-)  flowered,  the 
second  flower  $  (very  rarely  £ ),  in  the  axil  of  the  third 
glume ;  arranged  in  spikes,  racemes,  or  panicles ;  axis 
usually  continuous.  Flowering  glume  and  palea  of  the 
$  flower  always  firmer  in  texture  than  the  empty  glumes, 
unawned  (empty  glumes  rarely  awued).  Fruit  as  in  An- 
dropogonecK. 
A.  Spikelets  all  hermaphrodite. 

a.  Spikelets  neither  sunken  in  an  excavation  in  the 
rachis  nor  subtended  by  a  large  leaf-sheath. 
a.  Spikelets  without  any  special  covering  consist- 
ing of  bristles  or  spines  (sterile  branches). 

I.  Empty  glume  one 56.  Beimaria. 

II.  Empty  glumes  two,  $  flower  single. 

1°.  Lower   empty  glume   with    a   swollen 
ring-like  callus. .     .     .       60.  Eriochloa. 
2°.  Lower  empty  glume  without  a  ring-like 
and  swollen  callus. 

*  Spikelets  in  one-sided  racemes  or 
spikes,  these  frequently  in  pairs  or 
in  panicles.    .     .     .      57.  Paspalum. 
**  Spikelets  in  panicles. 

O  All  the  spikelets  alike,  fertile, 
in  terminal  panicles. 

58.  Anthsenantia. 

OO  Spikelets  of  two  kinds:  first, 
the  sterile,  borne  on  a  terminal 
panicle ;  second,  the  fertile, 
borne  on  short  subterranean 
branches.  .  59.  Amphicarpum. 
III.  Empty  glumes  two,  and  $  flowers  two. 

61.  Isachne. 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA.  71 

IV.  Empty  glumes   three,  and  $  flower   one, 
or  a  flowering  glume  with  $  flower  instead 
of  the  third  empty  glume. 
1°.  First  and  second  empty  glumes  with- 
out a  distinct  callus,  awnless. 

*  Flowering   glumes  without   lateral 
appendages  or  pits  at  the  base. 

62.  Panicum. 

**  Flowering  glume  with  membrana- 
ceous   appendages   or   pits   at   the 

base 63.  Ichnanthus. 

2°.  First  empty  glume  very  small,  awnless, 
the  second  apparently  distant  from  the 
first  on  account  of  a  conical  or  pedicel- 
like  callus,  and  like  the  third  (flower- 
ing glume  of  the  $  floret)  more  or  less 
awned  between  the  cleft  apex. 

64.  Tricholaena. 
3°.  First  and  second  empty  glumes  awned. 

*  First  empty  glume  without  any  dis- 
tinct callus.  .     .     .65.  Oplismenus. 

**  First  empty  glume  with  a  pointed, 

pedicel-like  callus.        66.  Chaetium. 

/?.  Spikelets  single  or  in  pairs,  subtended  by  an 

involucre  consisting  of  from  one  to  many  bristles 

or  spines  (sterile  branches)  which  are  sometimes 

grown  together. 

I.  Spikelets  falling  at  maturity,  bristles  per- 
sistent  67.  Setaria. 

II.  Involucral  bristles  falling  off  with  the  spike- 
lets  at  maturity  (cultivated  forms  excepted). 
1°.  Bristles  numerous,  rigid,  thickened   at 
the  base,  frequently  grown  together. 

68.  Cenchrus. 

2°.  Bristles  usually  numerous,  apparently 
whorled,  delicate,  not  thickened  at  the 
base,  often  plumose.  69.  Pennisetum. 
3°.  Involucral  bristles  numerous,  forming 
a  paniculate,  one-sided  system  of 
branchlets 70.  Plagiosetum. 


72  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

4°.  Only  one  bristle  below  each  spikelet. 

71.  Chamseraphis. 
NOTE. — Compare  Pennisetum,  Sec.  D. 

b.  Spikelets  in  small  spikes,  these  surrounded  by 
large  subtending  bracts  and  united  into  a  raceme. 

72.  Xerochloa. 

c.  Spikelets     forming     very     short     spikes      which 
are  sunken  into  cavities  of  the  one-sided,  broad 
axis 73.  Stenotaphrum. 

B.  Plants   monoecious,   dioecious,   or   dichogamous,   or    the 
spikelets  partly  neuter. 

a.  Spikes  very  short,  consisting  of  one  $  and  two  to 
three  upper,  neutral  spikelets  crowded  and  united 
into  a  one-sided  spike  with  a  leaf-like  axis. 

74.  Phyllorachis. 

b.  One  terminal,  simple  spike,  consisting  of  one  to 
two  lower  $  and  four  to  six  upper  $  spikelets  upon 
a  broad  (not  leaf -like)  axis.      .     .     .     75.  Thuarea. 

c.  Dioacious ;  ?  spikelets  in  heads  with  spiny  subtend- 
ing bracts,  $  in  spikes  which  are  united  into  dense, 
globular  heads.      . 76.  Spinifex. 

d.  Mono3cious,  spikelets  scattered  in  panicles. 

77.  Olyra. 

56.  (1)   Reimaria    Fliigge.      Spikelets     one-flowered, 
acuminate-pointed,  in  loose  two-ranked,  digitate  spikes. 
Flowering  glume  and  palea  slightly  indurated.    Stamens 
two. 

Species  four,  in  tropical  and  sub-tropical  America. 
[One  species,  R.  oligostachya  Munro,  in  Florida.] 

57.  (2)  Paspalum   L.     Spikelets  one-flowered,  usually 
obtuse,  in  two-  to  four-ranked  racemes  or  spikes,  these 
two  to  many,  digitate  or  disposed  in  panicles,  seldom  soli- 
tary. Flowering  glume  and  palea  cartilaginous.    Stamens 
three. 

Species  one  hundred  and  sixty,  in  the  tropics  of  both 
hemispheres,  but  most  abundant  in  America,  forming  an 
important  component  of  the  pampas  and  campos. 

Sec.  I.  Eupaspalum.  The  lower  empty  glume  and 
the  flowering  glume  turned  towards  the  rachis  of  the 
spike  or  raceme.  P.  dilatatum  (Fig.  24),  with  remote 
racemes,  is  a  good  forage  plant,  like  many  other  species  of 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA. 


73 


the  genus.  P.  exile  Kippist,  with  digitate  spikes,  and 
spikelets  2  mm.  long,  is  found  in 
Sierra  Leone,  where  it  is  culti- 
vated ("  Fundi"  or  "Fundungi "), 
the  fruit  being  used  for  food ;  P 
scrobiculatum  L.  (with  racemes  in 
pairs,  and  roundish  spikelets 
having  small  pits  at  their  bases) 
is  used  in  India  ("  Koda")  for 
food ;  the  rhizome  of  P.  distichum 
L.  (with  racemes  in  pairs,  and 
oblong,  pointed  spikelets)  is  used 
in  India  as  a  medicine  for  in- 
flammation of  the  gums  and 
against  conjunctivitis,  and  in 
the  Argentine  Republic  for  liver 
complaint;  and  P.  notatum 
Fliigge  for  gonorrhoea.  The  few 
species  with  only  one  empty 
glume  form  the  sub-section 
Anachyris  (Nees  as  a  genus); 
those  with  the  axis  of  the  spikes 
leaf-like,  form  the  sub-section 
Ceresia  (Pers.  as  a  genus). 

Sec.  II.   Cabrera  (Lag.    as   a  F 
genus).       Like    Sec.    I,  but   the 
spikelets  sunken  in  the  notches  of  the  axis. 

Sec.  III.  Anastrophus  (Schlechtend.  as  a  genus). 
Lower  empty  glume  and  flowering  glume  turned  away 
from  the  axis.  [P.  platycaule  Poir.,  a  forage  plant  in 
the  warmer  parts  of  America.]  The  genus  Lappagrostis 
Steud.  belongs  here. 

58.  (3)  Anthaenantia   Beauv.     (Aulaxanthus  Ell.,    Au- 
laxiaNutt.,  LeptocoryphiumNees).     Spikelets  as  in  Pas- 
palum  ;  hairy,  arranged  in  panicles  ;  flowering  glume  and 
palea  slightly  indurated. 

Species  three,  in  the  Southern  United  States  and  in 
South  America. 

59.  (4)  Amphicarpum  Kunth.    Fertile  spikelets  cleisto- 
gamous,  upon  filiform  runners  at  the  base  of  the  culm  ; 


Paspalum  dilatatum 
Poir.  (After  Trin.,  Spec.  Grain, 
pi.  139.) 


74  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

runners  with  scale-like  leaves.  The  open-flowered  spike- 
lets  of  the  terminal  panicle 
sterile. 

Species  two,  in  the  South- 
eastern United  States. 

60.  (5)     Eriochloa     Kunth. 
(Hdopus  Trin.,  (Edipachne  Link) 
(Fig.    25).       Spikelets    in    ra- 
cemes and  these  arranged  again 
in  simple  or  compound  racemes. 
Spikelets,  aside  from  the  annu- 
lar   callus,    as    in    Paspalum. 
Flowering    glume    mucronate- 
poiiited  or  very  short-awned. 

Species  five,  in  the  tropical 
and  subtropical  zones  of  both 
hemispheres. 

61.  (7)  Isachne  Brown.  Spike- 
lets  in   panicles,  two-flowered, 
the   fruiting   glumes   with  the 
grain  falling  out  of  the  persist- 
ent empty  ones. 

Species  about  twenty,  in 
the  warmer  countries  of  both 
hemispheres,  especially  of  the 

FIG.  25.  —  Eriochloa     grandiflora  _j£         ,  J    . 

(Trin.)    Hack.     (Helopus  grandi-    Old    VY  Ol'ld. 
floras  Trin.)    (After  Trin..   Spec. 

Gram.  pi.  278.)  62.  (8)  Panicum  L.  Spike- 

lets  in  spikes,  racemes,  or  panicles,  one-  to  two-flowered. 
First  empty  glume  usually  smaller  than  the  second,  and 
this  as  large  as  the  third,  which  has  the  same  struct- 
ure but  often  encloses  a  $  flower.  Flowering  glume  and 
palea  indurated,  awnless  or  very  short-awned.  Stamens 
three. 

Species  about  three  hundred,  in  all  warm  and  a  few 
in  temperate  countries.  They  form,  with  species  of  Pas- 
palum, excellent  forage  in  the  savannas  and  campos  of 
South  America. 

Sec.  I.  Digitaria(Pe>T8.  as  a  genus,  Syntherisma  Wa.lt.}. 
Racemes  (false  spikes)  simple,  one-sided,  digitate,  rarely 
scattered.  P.  sanguinale  L.  (Fig.  26),  "Blutfenmch,"  is 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA. 


75 


a  weed  in  gardens,  but  is  cultivated  in  Bohemia  upon 
sandy  soils,  where  the  fruit  is  used  for  mush  and  por- 
ridge ;  in  the  Southern  United  States,  where  it  is  known 
as  Crab-grass,  it  is  valued  for  fodder. 

Sec.  II.   Trichachne  (Nees  as  a  genus,  Adcarpa  Raddi, 
UrocMoa   Kunth,  Alloteropsis    Presl,    Holosetum    Steud., 


FIG.  26. — Panicum  sanguinale  L.  At, 
Part  of  a  spike  enlarged.  A  % 
nat.  size.  (After  Nees,  Gen.  Germ. 
I.  18.) 


FIG.  27.—  Panicum  spectabile 
Nees.  A  ±£  nat.  size.  (Af- 
ter Mart,  and  Eichler,  Fl. 
bras.  II.  II.  pi.  22.) 

CoridocJdoa  Nees,  Bluffia  Nees).  Racemes  or  panicles 
simple,  usually  with  long  silky  hairs. 

Sec.  III.  Tlirasya  (Kunth  as  a  genus,  Tylothrasya 
Doll.).  Spikes  with  a  broad  axis,  solitary.  Flowering 
glume  of  the  $  flower  frequently  two-cleft. 

Sec.  IV.  Echinolcena  (Desv.  as  a  genus).  Spikes  single, 
divergent  (Genus  No.  17  of  B.  &  H.,  Gen.  PI.  III.  p.  1107). 

Sec.  V.  Braclriaria.  Inflorescence  as  in  Paspcdum, 
glumes  awnless. 


76  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

Sec.  VI.  Echinochloa  (Beauv.  as  a  geims).  Spikelets 
iu  three- to  four-ranked  racemes,  and  these  again  in  ra- 
cemes or  panicles  ;  second  and  third  glumes  more  or 
less  awned.  P.  Crus-gatti  L.,  without  ligules  and  with 
naked  nodes,  is  cosmopolitan,  also  cultivated  for  fodder ; 
one  variety  (P '.  frumentaceum  Roxb.)  is  cultivated  in  India 
for  its  fruit.  P.  spectabile  Nees  (Fig.  27),  with  a  more 
distinct  ligule  and  bristly-hairy  nodes,  is  an  extremely 
productive  fodder-grass  for  tropical  countries,  and  large- 
ly cultivated  in  Brazil. 

Sec.  VII.  Hymenachne  (Beauv.  as  a  genus).  Spikelets 
small,  in  spike-like  panicles.  Flowering  gluine  but 
slightly  indurated. 

Sec.  VIII.  Ptychophyllum.  Spikelets  in  false  spikes 
which  are  arranged  in  panicles ;  axis  projecting  beyond 
the  spikelets.  Leaves  plicate,  elegant  in  appearance. 
P.  plicatum  Lam.,  from  the  tropics  of  the  Old  World, 
is  a  favorite  ornamental  grass  in  greenhouses. 

Sec.  IX.  Eupanicum.  Spikelets  all  pedicellate,  in 
panicles,  naked  or  with  short  hairs.  P.  Miliaceum  L. 
(Millet)  (Fig.  28)  has  loose  drooping  panicles  and  ovate 
spikelets ;  first  empty  gluine  half  as  long  as  the  second, 
flowering  glume  smooth  and  shining.  Cultivated  from 
prehistoric  times.  Native  country  unknown,  but  prob- 
ably the  East  Indies,  where,  and  in  China  and  Japan  as 
well,  it  is  yet  much  cultivated.  It  is  raised  to  a  consid- 
erable extent  in  South  Russia  and  Roumania,  but  only 
here  and  there  in  other  parts  of  Europe.  Several  varie- 
ties are  distinguished  by  the  color  of  the  fruit  and  the 
habit  of  the  panicles.  The  fruit  is  mostly  used  for  por- 
ridge ("Brei").  P.  altissimumJ&cq.  (P.  jtimentorumPers.}, 
"  Guinea  grass,"  is  2-3  m.  high,  spikes  loose,  upright, 
spikelets,  lanceolate,  fruiting  glumes  with  fine  transverse 
wrinkles.  Native  of  tropical  Africa.  Cultivated  as  a 
fodder-grass,  especially  in  America,  on  account  of  its 
vigorous  and  rapid  growth.  The  rhizome  of  P.junceum 
Nees  is  used  in  the  Argentine  Republic  as  a  substitute  for 
soap  for  washing  woollen  goods.  To  this  section  belong 
Coleatcenia  Griseb.,  Otachyrium  Nees,  Streptostachys  Desv., 
all  more  or  less  anomalous  species. 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA. 


77 


63.  (9)  Ichnanthus  Beauv.  (Navicularia  Kaddi).    Spike- 
lets  ovate  or  acute,  short  pedicellate  on  the  branches  of 
the  panicle,  with  one  $  and  one  $  flower.     Leaves  broad- 
lanceolate  to  ovate. 

Species  twenty,  all  in  tropical  America,  one  of  them 
also  in  India. 

64.  (8  §)  Tricholaena    Schrad.    (Bhynchdytrum    Nees, 
Hochst.,  Monachyron  Parl.).     Spikelets  in  loose  panicles, 


FIG.  28.— Panicum  miliaceum  L.    (After  Nees,  Gen.  Germ.,  I.  19.) 

broad,  somewhat  laterally  compressed,  very  hairy,  es- 
pecially on  the  callus  of  the  second  empty  glume. 
The  latter  and  the  flowering  glume  of  the  $  flower  often 
thick -membranaceous  ;  flowering  glume  and  palea  much 
shorter,  chartaceous,  shining. 

Species  ten,  in  all  parts  of  Africa  :  one  of  them  extends 
to  Sicil}T  and  western  India,  one  of  which  is  endemic,  two 
in  Madagascar.  Tr.  rosea  Nees,  with  reddish,  silky  hairs 
on  the  spikelets,  awns  short  or  wanting,  from  the  Cape 


78 


THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 


of  Good  Hope,  is  an  elegant  ornamental  grass,  especially 
for  dry  bouquets. 

65.  (10)  Oplismenus   Beauv.  (Orthopogon  Brown,    He- 
katerosachne   Steud.).      Spikelets  one-flowered,   in  small 
groups  or  clusters  along  the  branches  of  the  panicle, 
turned   to   one    side ;    first   and   second  empty   glumes 
always,  and  the  third  frequently,  awned.     Broad-leaved, 
delicate  grasses. 

Species  four,  in  the  tropical  and  sub-tropical  zone 
(one  species  in  South  Europe). 

66.  (11)  Chsetium  Nees  (BerchtoUia  Presl).    Spikelets 
lance-awl-shaped,   pedicellate,    in   close    panicles,    one- 
flowered,  all  three  empty  glumes  awned. 

Species  two  ;  one  in  Mexico,  one  in  Cuba  and  Brazil. 

67.  (12)  Setaria  Beauv.  (Fig.  29).     Spikelets  1-2  flow- 

ered, ovate,  in  a  close,  cylin- 
drical or  bushy  panicle.  Glumes 
awnless,  first  empty  glume  short. 
Flowering  glume  and  palea  ob- 
tuse, finally  hard  and  shining 
or  transversely  wrinkled.  In- 
volucral  bristles  usually  pro- 
jecting beyond  the  spikelets, 
rough. 

About  ten  species,  in  all  the 
warmer  countries  of  the  world ; 
some  as  weeds  in  the  temperate 
regions.  S.  glauca  Beauv.  (Fig. 
29),  with  numerous  bristles  under 
each  spikelet,  and  flowering 
glume  with  strong  transverse 
wrinkles,  is  cosmopolitan.  S. 
viridis  Beauv.,  with  2-3  bristles 
under  each  spikelet,  and  flower- 
ing glume  indistinctly  transverse- 
wrinkled,  is  widespread,  and  is 
probably  the  original  form  of  S. 
Italica  Beauv.,  Hungarian  grass, 
which  is  distinguished  only  by 
its  larger  panicles  and  thicker  and  larger  spikelets  which 


I-22-) 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA.  79 

do  not  fall  off  at  maturity.  The  fruiting  glume  has,  at 
its  base,  a  smooth  place  enclosed  by  two  slight  longitu- 
dinal swellings  and  is  not  shining,  a  character  which 
makes  it  easy  to  distinguish  this  species  from  the  com- 
mon Millets.  Hungarian  grass  is  extensively  raised 
in  Japan,  China,  some  parts  of  the  East  Indies  and  Trans- 
Caucasia,  where  it  forms  an  important  article  of  food  ;  in 
Europe  its  culture  is  less  important,  and  it  is  mostly 
used  for  food  for  fowls. 

The  sixteen  varieties  may  be  divided  into  two  main 
groups  :  large  Millet,  with  long,  usually  irregular,  nod- 
ding false  spikes,  and  "  Mohar"  (Hungarian),  with  short, 
regular,  upright  spikes.  The  culture  of  Setaria  Itcdica 
Beauv.  has  its  origin  in  prehistoric  times.  As  early 
as  2700  B.C.,  Hungarian  grass  formed  one  of  the  main 
cereals  of  the  Chinese ;  it  was  sown  in  early  spring  by 
the  princes  of  the  royal  house  themselves,  just  as  the 
emperor  sowed  rice  with  his  own  hand.  Its  culture 
extends  back  to  an  early  date  also  in  Egypt,  and  in  the 
Lake  Dwellings  of  the  stone  age  it  is  found  in  such 
quantities  that  it  must  be  regarded  as  the  main  bread- 
supply  of  the  prehistoric  peoples.  Traces  of  its  very 
ancient  culture  are  also  found  in  other  places  (Hungary, 
Upper  Italy,  etc.).  Ixophorus  Schlechtd.  is  a  Setaria 
with  only  one  bristle. 

68.  (13)  Cenchrus  L.  (Fig.  30).  Spikelets  narrow,  each 
one,  or  as  many  as  two  to  three  together,  enclosed  by  an 
involucre.  The  involucres  in  a  spike  or  raceme.  First 
empty  glume  small,  all  awnless  ;  stamens  three ;  styles 
mostly  united  below. 

Species  twelve,  in  the  tropical  and  sub-tropical  zones 
of  both  hemispheres,  and  in  America  also  in  the  temper- 
ate zone.  C.  tribidoides  L.,  bristles  grown  together  into 
a  coriaceous  and  very  spiny  capsule.  A  troublesome 
weed  in  North  America.  The  involucre  adheres  very 
strongly  to  the  wool  of  sheep,  from  which  it  can  scarcely 
be  removed,  and  in  consequence  materially  injures  its 
value.  It  ought  to  be  carefully  rooted  out  in  sheep  dis- 
tricts. It  is  also  very  troublesome  to  workmen  who  are 


80 


THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 


barefooted,  like  C.  myosuroides  Humb.  &  Kunth,  in  South 
America. 

69.  (14)  Pennisetum  Pers.  Spikelets  in  racemes,  spikes 
or  false  spikes,  narrow  or  ovate,  single  or  in  groups  of 
twos  or  threes,  usually  surrounded  with  many  (rarely  with 
only  one)  dissimilar  bristles.  First  empty  glume  very 


FIG.  30.— A.  Cenchrus  echinatus 
L.  (After  Mart,  and  Eichler, 
Fl  bras. ,11.  II.  pi.  43.)  L,  In- 
volucre of  C.  tribuloides  L. 
LI,  Cross-section  of  the  same- 
B,  Sp.  of  latter.  (After  A. 
Gray,  Man.  pi.  14.) 


FIG.  31 .  —  Penn  isehnn  Prieurii 
Kunth.  (After  Kunth.  Revis. 
pi.  119.) 


small,  flowering  glume  shorter  than  the  second  empty 
glume.  Styles  often  united,  projecting  from  the  apex  of 
the  spikelet. 

Species  forty,  mostly  in  tropical  and  sub-tropical 
Africa ;  one  in  Southern  Europe,  and  a  few  in  America 
and  Asia. 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA. 


81 


Sec.  I.  Pennisetum  (Eriochceta  Figari  &  De  Notar.  as  a 
genus).  Bristles  numer- 
ous, all,  or  only  the 
middle  ones,  bearded. 
P.  villosum  Brown,  from 
Abyssinia,  with  broad 
spikes,  is  a  favorite  or- 
namental grass  under 
the  false  name  of  P. 
longistylum  (which  be- 
longs to  Section  III). 

Sec.  II.  Penidllaria 
Willd.  (as  a  genus).  Dis- 
tinguished from  the  pre- 
ceding section  only  by 
the  artificial  character 
(probably  due  to  cultiva- 
tion) of  the  permanent 
involucre.  P.  typhoi- 
deum  Rich.  (Penicill.  spi- 
cata  Willd.)  "  Pearl  Mil- 
let" (Fig.  32),  the  original 
form  and  native  country 
of  which  are  unknown, 
has  a  culm  1-2  m.  high, 
and  fruiting  panicles  8-20 
cm.  long,  2-4  cm.  thick, 
and  bearded.  This  is  an 
important  agricultural 
grass  in  Central  Africa. 
The  fruit  is  used  for 
Mush  ("  Kuskus").  It  is 
also  grown  in  Arabia  Fe- 
lix and  the  East  Indies. 
[Cultivated  in  the  South- 
ern United  States  for 
fodder.] 

Sec.  III.  Gymnothrix 

~Be&UV.(Oxyanthe  Steud.).         Fle-  ^--Pennisetum  typhoideum  Rich. 

All  involucral  bristles  naked.     P.  latifolium  Spr.  (Gym- 


82  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

nothrix  latifolia  Schult.),  with  culms  1-1.5  m.  high,  leaves 
broad-lanceolate,  is  an  ornamental  grass  used  for  cover- 
ing roofs  of  houses  in  the  Argentine  Eepublic,  where  it 
is  native ;  P.  Japonicum  Triu.  (  Gymnoth.  Japonica),  a  low- 
growing  species  with  linear  leaves,  is  also  an  ornamental 
grass.  Amphochceta  Anderss.  includes  a  species  with 
spikes  in  panicles ;  Sericura  Hasskarl,  is  a  Malayan 
species  with  very  long  bristles. 

Sec.  IV.  Beckeropsis  (Fig.  &  De  Notar,  as  a  genus)  has 
only  one  involucral  bristle  to  each  spikelet ;  spikes 
in  panicles.  Distinguished  from  Chamceraphis  by  the 
persistent  pedicels  of  the  spikelets. 

70.  (15)  Plagiosetum    Benth.     One    to    two,   narrow, 
acute  spikelets  within  each  involucrum. 

Species  one  (P.  refrcuctum  Benth.),  in  Australia. 

71.  (18)  Chamseraphis    Brown    (Paratheria     Griseb.). 
Spikelets    lanceolate,  in    simple    or    slightly   branched 
racemes,  on  short  pedicels  which  fall  off  with  the  spike- 
lets.     First  empty  glume  very  short. 

Species  five  ;  four  in  tropical  Asia  and  Australia,  one 
in  the  West  Indies  and  Brazil. 

72.  (20)  Xerochloa  Brown.     Subtending  bracts  of  the 
spikes  husk-like,  distichous  ;  axis  of  the  spike  short,  with 
a  chaff-like  continuation  beyond  the  spikelets.  Spikelets 
two-flowered ;  flowering  glume  of  £  flower  very  narrow. 

Species  three,  in  Australia. 

73.  (21)  Stenotaphrum     Trin.    (Diastemanthe     Steud.). 
Spikelets  2-4,  forming  a  short,  partial  spike,  embedded 
in  the  alternate  notches  of  the  broad  rachis  of  a  spike- 
like  panicle  ;  axis  of  the  spike  with  a  chaff-like  prolonga- 
tion.    Spikelets   two-flowered,  first  empty  glume  small. 
Creeping  grasses  with  compressed  culms  and  flat,  diver- 
gent leaves. 

Species  three  or  four,  one  of  which,  St.  Americanum 
Schrank  (Fig.  33),  is  widespread  in  the  tropics  and  sub- 
tropical regions,  and  is  useful  for  holding  the  sand  on 
the  banks  of  rivers.  The  rhizome  is  used  in  South 
America  as  a  diuretic.  The  other  species  occur  on  the 
islands  of  the  Indian  and  Pacific  oceans. 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA. 


83 


74.  (22)  Phyllorachis  Trimen.     Each  partial  spike  with 
one   fertile  spikelet,  and    2-3 

sterile  ones  reduced  to  single 
glumes  ;  axis  prolonged.  First 
empty  glume  minute,  bristle- 
like,  the  third  glume  largest, 
with  a  palea  in  its  axil.  Be- 
sides the  terminal  leaf-like 
spikes  there  are  solitary,  long- 
pedicelled  spikelets  in  the 
axils  of  the  leaves. 

Species  one  (Ph.  sagittata 
Trim.),  with  sagittate  leaves, 
found  at  Coanza  in  Angola. 
Belationship  doubtful. 

75.  (23)  Thuarea  Pers.  (Mi- 
crothuareia   Thouars,   Orintho- 
cephcdochloa     Kurz).        Spikes 
surrounded     by    a    sheathing 
leaf ;   at  maturity  the  dilated 
base   of  the  axis  envelops  the 

1-2  £  spikelets,  and   the  rest       A 

Of     the     axis,      Stripped    of     its  FIG.  SS.-Stenotaphrum  Americanum 

spikelets,  forms  a  beak  which     ff£at  /L^t *S$uS™ 
bores  into  the  ground.     A  creeping  maritime  grass. 

Species  one  (Th.  sarmentosa  Pers.),  from  Ceylon  to 
New  Caledonia. 

76.  (24)  Spinifex  L.  (Fig.  34).      The  $  spikes    with 
projecting  rachis,  in  dense  heads  with  subtending  bracts 
at  the  base;    spikelets   two-flowered;    ?  spikelets  one- 
flowered,  with   the  pungent-pointed,  subtending  bracts 
projecting  far  beyond  them. 

Species  four ;  three  in  Australia,  the  fourth  from 
there  to  Ceylon  and  Japan.  At  maturity  the  entire  ? 
head  falls  off  and  is  carried  away  by  the  winds  or  floats 
on  the  sea,  and  finally  presses  itself  into  the  sand  by 
means  of  its  bristles  and  falls  in  pieces.  The  species  are 
an  important  agent  in  binding  the  drifting  sands  of  the 
coasts.  Leaves  usually  with  hard,  rigid  points.  This 


84 


THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 


genus   should  not  be  confused  with  the  "  Spinifex"  of 
Australian  travellers  (see  Triodia). 


Fio.  34.— Spinifex  hirsutus  Labillard.     $  plant  above,  ?  below.    (After  Labill., 
Sent.  PI.  N.  Holl.  pi.  280,  231.) 

77.  (25)  Olyra  L.  (Lithachne  Beauv.,  Strephium  Schrad., 
Raddia  Bertol.)  (Fig.  35).    All  the  spikelets  one-flowered, 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA. 


85 


the  $  upon  the  lower  portion  of  the  panicle  or  in  separate 
panicles,  without  empty  glumes; 
flowering  glume  narrow  and 
acuminate -pointed  ;  ?  spikelets 
ovate  ;  empty  glumes  two,  her- 
baceous, pointed  or  awned  ; 
flowering  glume  much  shorter, 
cartilaginous.  Lodicules  three. 
Leaves  broad,  netted-veined, 
often  with  short  petioles. 

Species  twenty,  all,  with  the 
exception  of  one  in  Africa,  from 
tropical  America. 

TKIBE  VI.— ORYZEJE. 

Spikelets  $  or  unisexual, 
one-flowered ;  flowers  apparently 
terminal  and  enclosed  by  a 
flowering  glume  and  a  palea 
which  is  usually  one-nerved. 
Empty  glumes  two  or  none, 
very  seldom  numerous.  Sta- 

mens   frequently   six.     Stigmas  FlG.  35._0,2/ra  micrantha  Humb. 
more   or    less    elongated,  fruit    fflLS^^ftrtSL''! 
usually  with    a    small  embryo     12-> 
and  long,  linear  hilum.     Starch-grains  compound. 
A.  Spikelets  unisexual ;  plants  monoecious  ;   anthers  six  or 

more. 

a.  Spikelets  in  short,  solitary  spikes,  terminal  and 
axillary 78.  Hydrochloa. 

b.  Spikelets    in    panicles,    or    spikes    arranged     in 
panicles. 

a.  Spikelets  in  pairs  at  each  node  of  the  panicle- 
branches  ;  one  large,  ?  ,  sessile,  the  other  small, 
$ ,  long-pedicelled. 
I.  Flowering  glume  linear-oblong. 

79.  Pharus, 

II.  Flowering  glume   inflated,  globose,  closed 
excepting  a  hole  at  the  point. 

80.  Leptaspis. 


86  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

ft.  Spikelets  not   in   pairs   at   the   nodes   of    the 
branches. 
I.  Spikelets  without  empty  glumes. 

1°.  Spikelets  linear.     Embryo   as   long  as 

the  fruit 83.  Zizania. 

2°.  ?  spikelets    ovate   or   elliptical.     Eni- 
bryo  many  times  smaller  than  the  fruit. 
*    $  and  ?  spikelets  in  different  pani- 
cles, rarely  in  the  same,  and  then  the 
$  spikelets  terminal  on  each  branch. 
81.  Luziola. 

**    $  and  ?  spikelets  in  the  same  pani- 
cle,  the  ?    terminal,   the    $  at   the 
base  of  each  branch.  82.  Zizaniopsis. 
II.  Spikelets  with  two  very  small  or  bristle- 
like  empty  glumes.     .     .     84.  Potamophila. 
B.   Spikelets  all  $  . 

a.  Spikelets  arranged  in  panicles. 

a.  Empty  glumes  two,  short  but  distinct,  awnless 
(two  additional  rudimentary  empty  glumes  in 
Oryza}. 

I.  Flowering  glume    and   palea   roundish   in 
section  (but  slightly  compressed). 

85.  Maltebrunia. 

II.  Flowering    glume   and  palea    much   com- 
pressed laterally 86.  Oryza. 

/?.  Empty  glumes  two,  awned,  exceeding  or  slightly 
shorter  than  the  flowering  glume. 
*  Empty  glumes  gradually  tapering  into  awns. 

68.  Achleena. 
**  Empty  glumes  awned  from  a  notch  in  the 

apex 89.  Reynaudia. 

y.  Empty  glumes  wanting  or  present  only  as 
minute  rudiments. 

I.  Flowering  glume  awnless.      .      87.  Leersia. 
II.  Flowering  glume  awned.  .     90.  Hygroryza. 

b.  Spikelets  in  a  terminal,  naked  spike  at  whose  apex 
the  ends  of  the  awns  of  all  the  spikelets  are  fast- 
ened together 93.  Streptochseta. 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA.  87 

c.  Spikelets  in  twos  or  threes  in  the  axils  of  sheath- 
like  subtending  bracts. 
a.  Only  one   subtending   bract   with   2-3   united 

spikelets  terminating  the  culm.  .    92.  Lygeum. 
ft.   Subtending  bracts, in  two  series  with  2-3  free 

spikelets  in  the  axil  of  each.      91.  Anomochloa. 

78.  (39)  Hydrochloa  Beauv.     An    aquatic   grass  with 
flat  leaves,  3-5  <3  spikelets  in  a  terminal  spike,  a  few  ? 
in  each  axillary  spike,  which  scarcely  exceeds  its  sub- 
tending sheath.     Stigmas  long. 

Species  one  (H.  Carolinensis  Beauv.),  in  the  Southern 
United  States. 

79.  (26)  Pharus  L.   ?  spikelets  linear  ;  empty  glumes 
two,  short ;   flowering  glume  long,  coriaceous,  involute. 
Palea    two-nerved.     Spikes  paniculate.     Leaves  broad, 
pedicellate  ;  blade  reversed.     (See  page  8.) 

Species  five,  in  tropical  America. 

80.  (27)  Leptaspis  Brown.      $  spikelets  small,  termi- 
nal on  the  short  branchlets  ;  ?   spikelets  1-2,  sessile  on 
the  lower  portions  of  same,  large,  globose,  with  two  short 
empty  glumes.     Leaves  as  in  Pharus. 

Species  five,  in  the  tropics  of  the  Old  World. 

81.  (41)  Luziola  Juss.    (Fig.  36).     Spikelets   awnless, 
ovate  ;    flowering  glume  with  many  prominent  nerves. 
Caryopsis  with  a  thick,  hard  peri- 
carp.       Creeping,      narrow-leaved, 

marsh  or  aquatic  grasses. 

Species  six,  from  Brazil  to  Ala- 
bama. 

Sec.  I.  Eiduziola.  $  and  5  spike- 
lets  in  separate  panicles.  Stamens 
usually  more  than  six  (6-18). 

Sec.  II.    CaryocMoa  (Trin.    as   a 

genus).     Arrozia  Schrad.  3   and    ?   ^  ^_Luziola  Peruviana 
spikelets  in  the  same  panicle,     ota-         Juss.  A  $  spikeiet. 
mens  six. 

82.  (40)  Zizaniopsis    Doll     &    Ascherson.      Habit    of 
Zizania.      ?  spikelets  terminating  the  branches  of  the 
panicle.     Fruit  a  globose  nut  with  a  hard,  shining,  easily 


88  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

separable  pericarp.  Embryo  and  hilum  not  visible  on 
the  outside.  Stigmas  united. 

Species  one,  with  two  varieties — Z.  milicwea  Doll  & 
Asch.  [(Zizqnia  miliacea  MX.)]  in  Brazil  and  the  Southern 
United  States. 

83.  (40)  Zizania  L.  (Hydropyrum  Link,  Melinum  Link). 
A  reed-like  grass  with  broad  leaves  and  large  panicles 
which  are  ?  and  narrow,  with  the  branches  somewhat 
appressed  above,  and  6  and  expanded  below.      ?  spike- 
lets  almost  subulate,  awned,  supported  on  thick  pedicels. 

$  awnless,  lanceolate.  Fruit  a  caryopsis  2  cm.  long  and 
1  mm.  thick,  pericarp  thin  ;  embryo  very  long,  concealed 
in  a  furrow,  with  large  epiblast,  plumule  pedicellate. 

Species  one,  Z.  aquatica  L.  (Z.  palustris  Link  and  Hy- 
dropyrum esculentum  Link),  "  Tuscarora  rice"  or  "  Indian 
rice,"  which  grows  upon  the  banks  of  streams  and  lakes 
in  North  America  and  Northeastern  Asia.  The  Indians 
annually  collect  the  fruit  in  quantities  for  food  ;  they 
also  sow  the  seed  in  order  to  provide  for  farther  exten- 
sion of  the  plants.  Lately  it  has  been  sown  in  fish-ponds, 
for  the  fruit,  when  it  falls,  is  eagerly  eaten  by  the  fish.* 
The  Asiatic  form  (Z.  latifolia  Turcz.)  is  only  a  variety. 

84.  (42)  Potamophila    Brown.      Spikelets    lanceolate, 
awnless,  in  long  panicles  whose  lower  branches  bear  the 

?    (with  distinct    staminodia    in  the  flowers)  and  the 
upper  the  6  or  $  spikelets.     Fruit  spherical. 
Species  one  (P.  parviftora  Brown),  in  Australia. 

85.  (42)  Maltebrunia  Kunth.     Like  the  preceding,  but 
with  all  the  spikelets  $  .  Leaves  broader,  almost  petiolate. 

Species  two,  in  Madagascar  and  Cape  Colony. 

86.  (44)  Oryza  L.    (Podia  Zolling    &  Mor.).     Spike- 
lets  elongated ;  empty  glumes  of    two    small  scales  or 
bristles,  and  underneath  these  two  more  minute  rudi- 
mentary empty  glumes.     Flowering   glume    complicate 
and  keeled,  usually  awned ;  palea  narrow,  one-nerved. 

*  The  stems  are  used  by  coopers  for  making  the  joints  of  barrels 
intended  to  hold  whiskey  or  petroleum  perfectly  tight.  The  tidal  mud 
along  the  Delaware  River  for  fifty  miles  bears  a  heavy  growth  of  Z.  aqua- 
tica (locally  called  "  The  Reeds"),  and  the  fruit  furnishes  the  food  of 
the  Reed-bird,  giving  it  the  flavor  for  which  it  is  so  much  esteemed. 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA.  89 

Stamens  six  ;  fruit  long,  obtuse,  closely  enveloped  by 
the  fruiting  glume,  and  compressed  laterally  with  two 
lateral  furrows  ;  embryo  short,  curved. 

About  six  species,  in  the  tropics  of  both  hemispheres. 
0.  sativa  L.,  Eice,  has  contracted 
panicles  and  rough,  prominently 
five-nerved  flowering  glumes.  Wild 
in  wet  places  in  India  and  tropical 
Australia ;  one  variety  in  Africa ; 
naturalized  in  Brazil.  Eice  has 
been  cultivated  in  China  from  the 
most  ancient  times  (for  over  2800 
years  B.C.),  in  South  Europe, 
where  it  was  introduced  by  the 
Arabs,  and  in  Egypt,  since  the  mid- 
dle ages  (in  Central  Africa  earlier?), 
in  North  America  since  1700  A.D., 
and  besides  in  Mexico,  Brazil,  and 
Paraguay.  It  needs  stagnant 
water  which  readily  breeds  swamp- 
fever,  and  in  Europe  its  culture 
in  the  vicinity  of  villages  or  ham- 
lets is  forbidden.  Mountain-  or 
Upland-rice,  which  requires  only 
to  be  irrigated,  is  much  less  prized  4 
for  economic  uses.  Eice  is  used 
for  food  by  more  people  than  any 
other  one  grain.  It  is  generally 
used  in  the  form  of  soup  or  boiled  FiG.37.-orj,za^LiT  (After 
rice.  "  Arak"  is  made  from  it  by  *ees'  Gen- Gerra- T  pl-  2-} 
fermentation  ;  in  Japan  a  light  alcoholic  drink,  "  Sake," 
is  made  from  rice  by  means  of  an  organic  ferment. 
Gluten  rice  ("  Klebreis"),  whose  grains  stick  fast  to- 
gether when  cooked,  forming  a  firmly  united  mass,  and 
whose  starch  turns  reddish  brown  (see  p.  26)  instead  of 
blue  with  iodine,  is  used  in  Japan  for  paste  and  for  mak- 
ing an  elastic  dough  from  which  cakes  are  baked.  In 
China  a  kind  of  sugar  and  a  sweet  drink  are  prepared 
from  it.  Eice-starch  has  lately  become  an  article  of 
trade,  especially  in  England.  Eice-brooms,  rice-paper, 


90  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

are  not  made  from  rice  ;  the  first  comes  from  Sorghum, 
the  second  from  Broussonetia  or  Bambusa.  About  forty 
varieties  are  founded  upon  the  color  and  size  of  the  fruit 
and  the  absence  or  presence  of  awns. 

87.  (45)  Leersia  Swartz   (Homalocenchrus  Mieg,  Ehr- 
hartia  Wigg.,  Blepharochloa  Endl.).     Distinguished  from 
Oryza  only  by  the  aborted  (indicated  by  minute  rudi- 
ments) empty  glumes,  awnless  flowering   glume,  three, 
two,  or  one  stamen  (six  only  in  L.  hexandra),  and  the 
relatively  smaller  fruit. 

Species  five;  swamp-grasses,  one  of  which,  L.  oryzoides 
Sw.,  is  found  in  the  north  temperate  zone  of  both  the 
Old  World  and  New  World ;  another,  L.  hexandra, 
throughout  the  entire  tropical  zone,  and  three  in  America 
only. 

88.  (46)  Achlsena  Griseb.     Panicle  widely  expanded. 
Spikelets  large,  linear-lanceolate,  awned.     First  empty 
glume  aristiform ;  flowering  glume  convolute.     Stamen 
one.     Caryopsis  linear,  with  a  very  small  embryo. 

Species  one  (A.  piptostachya  Gr.),  in  Cuba. 

89.  (56)  Reynaudia  Kunth.     Spikelets  long.     Empty 
glumes  subequal,  two-lobed  at  the  apex  ;  flowering  glume 
short-awned   below   the   point,   slightly  exceeding    the 
empty  glumes.     Lodicules  two ;  stamens  two ;  embryo 
small. 

Species  one  (R.Jtliformis  Kunth),  in  Cuba.  Leaves 
narrow  ;  branches  of  the  panicle  erect ;  spikelets  small. 

90.  (43)  Hygroryza  Nees  (PotamocMoa  Griffith).  Float- 
ing, aquatic  grasses  with  broad,  short  leaves  ;  the  sheaths 
of  the  lower  ones  much  inflated.     Panicles  umbellate, 
few-flowered. 

Species  one  (H.  aristata  Nees),  in  the  East  Indies. 

91.  (30)  Anomochloa  Brongniart.    An  anomalous  grass 
with  long-petiolate  leaves ;  the  solitary  apical  spike  with 
many  large,  sheathing  bracts.     Flowering  glume  inem- 
branaceous,  palea  harder,  closed  and  tubular  below  with 
a  filiform  appendage.    A  membranaceous  fringed  ring  in 
place  of  the  lodicules.     Stamens  four. 

Species  one  (A.  marantoidea  Brongn.),  in  Brazil. 

92.  (28)  Lygeum  L.    The  united,  very  hairy  flowering 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA. 


91 


glumes  of  the  2-3  spikelets  finally  form  a  hard  capsule  or 

false  fruit.  Palea  linear,  two-nerved,  much  exceeding  the 

flowering  glume.    Styles  elongated, 

stigmas   short,  feathery ;   stamens 

three  ;     common     subtending    or 

sheathing   bract  of   the    spikelets 

lanceolate. 

Species  one,  L.  Spartum  L.  (Fig. 
38),  has  a  creeping  rhizome  and 
stiff,  rush-like,  convolute  leaves. 
In  rocky  soil  on  the  high  plains  of 
the  countries  bordering  the  Medi- 
terranean, especially  of  Spain  and 
Algeria.  A  part  of  the  "Esparto" 
(see  Stipa  tenacissima)  is  furnished 
by  this  plant. 

93.  (29)  Streptochaeta  Schrad. 
(Lepideilema  Trin.).  Distinguished 
from  all  other  grasses  by  the  spiral 
arrangement  of  its  numerous  (12) 
glumes,  one  of  which  bears  a  deli- 
cate, tendril-like,  twisted  awn. 

Spikelets  elongated,  terete,  acu- 
minate.      Stamens    six,    monadel-  Fl°- 
phous.     Style  one,  stigmas  three  ; 
leaves  broad. 

Species  one  (S.  spicata  Schrad.),  in  Brazil.  A  genus 
of  very  doubtful  relationship,  placed  with  the  Oryzecv 
on  account  of  the  character  of  its  fruit.  (For  manner  of 
dispersing  its  seed,  see  page  29.) 

TBEBE  VII. — PHALABIDE.E. 

All  the  spikelets  fertile,  one-flowered  or  with  1-2  $ 
flowers  inserted  below  the  apparently  terminal  one. 
Empty  glumes  four  (the  two  inner  ones  rarely  acting  as 
flowering  glumes  for  $  flowers),  unequal,  the  third  and 
fourth  occasionally  very  small,  or  one  of  them  rudiment- 
ary. Flowering  glume  and  palea  alike,  laterally  com- 
pressed, nerves  one  or  none,  awnless.  Styles  distinct ; 
stigmas  usually  projecting  from  the  point  of  the  spike- 


92  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

let ;  caryopsis  unfurrowed  ;  embryo  small ;  starch-grains 
compound. 

A.  The  third  and  fourth  (or  only  the  fourth)  empty  glumes 
larger  than  thejirst  and  second. 

a.  Stamens  six,  rarely  three.       .     .     .     94.  Ehrharta. 

b.  Stamens  four  or  two. 

a.  Panicles  loose,  third  and  fourth  empty  glumes 
equal,  awned 95.  Microlaena. 

/?.  Inflorescence    a    spike    or    spike-like    panicle. 
Fourth  glume  longer  than  the  third,  awnless. 

96.  Tetrarrhena. 

B.  Third  and  fourth  empty  glumes  smaller  than  or  barely 
equalling  thejirst  and  second. 

a.  Third  and  fourth  glumes  empty,  reduced  to  small 
scales,  awiiless 97.  Phalaris. 

b.  Third  and  fourth  glumes  empty,  small,  awiied  upon 
the  back 98.  Anthcxanthum. 

c.  Third  and  fourth  glumes,  or  at  least  the  third,  with 
a  $  flower,  almost  equalling  the  first  and  second, 
awnless  or  short-awned.      .     .     .     99.  Hierochloe. 

94.  (99)  Ehrharta  Thunb.  (Trochera  Eich.)  (Fig.  39). 
Spikelets  arranged  in  panicles  or  simple  racemes.     First 
and  second  empty  glumes  short,  the  third  and  fourth  fre- 
quently awned  ;  flowering  glume  slightly  shorter,  keeled, 
with  a  callus  or  tuft  of  hairs  at  the  base. 

Species  twenty-four ;  twenty  in  South  Africa,  two  on 
Mascarene  Isles,  two  in  New  Zealand.  Two  have  become 
naturalized  in  New  Holland. 

95.  (100)  Microlsena  Brown  (Diplax  Hook.).    First  and 
second  empty  glumes  very  short,  third  and  fourth  longer 
than  the  flowering  glume,  all  keeled  ;   lodicules  quite 
large  ;  stamens  two  or  four.     Inflorescence  paniculate. 

Species  five,  in  Australia  to  New  Zealand. 

96.  (101)  Tetrarrhena  Brown.      Like    the    preceding, 
but  the  spikelets  in  a  more  simple,  scarcely  branched 
spike.     Fourth  glume  largest,  indurated  ;  stamens  four. 

Species  four,  in  Australia. 

97.  (102)  Phalaris  L.     Inflorescence  usually  a  close 
spike-like,    rarely   interrupted  panicle ;  spikelets  later- 
ally compressed.     First  and  second  glumes  boat-shaped. 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA. 


93 


usually  with  a  membranaceous  wing  upon  the  keel. 
Flowering  glume  and  palea  hard,  shining  ;  lodicules  dis- 
tinct ;  stamens  three. 

Species  ten,  mostly  in  Southern  Europe ;  a  few  in 
Northern  Europe  and  in  America.  Ph.  canariensis, 
"  Canary  grass"  (Fig.  40),  with  strongly-winged  keels  on 


FIG.  40.— Phalaris  minor  L.    M, 
FIG.    39.  —  Ehrharta    Urvilleana    Kunth.       Ph.     canariensis     L .      (After 
CAfter  Kunth,  Revis.  Gram.  pi.  6.)  Nees,  Gen.  Germ.,  1. 12.) 

the  empty  glumes  and  the  third  and  fourth  empty  glumes 
half  as  long  as  the  flowering  glume,  is  cultivated  in  South- 
ern Europe  and  in  Germany.  The  grain  is  used  for  bird- 
food,  and  sometimes,  in  Southern  Europe,  as  a  cereal. 
From  the  flour,  weaver's  glue  is  prepared.  Ph.  arundinacea 
L.,  "  reed-grass,"  with  more  open,  interrupted  panicles 
and  wingless  empty  glumes,  forming  a  distinct  section — 
Digraphis  (Trin.  as  a  genus,  Bcddingera^lL&j.  &  Schreb.) — 
grows  upon  river-banks  and  is  of  some  value  for  hay  ;  a 
variety  with  leaves  striped  with  white  ("  ribbon-grass")  is 
cultivated  for  ornament. 


94 


THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 


98.  (103)  Anthoxanthum  L.    Spikelets  in  short,  spike- 
like  panicles,  narrow ;  first  and  second  empty  glumes 
unequal,    herbaceous;    third   and   fourth   clothed   with 

brown  hairs.  Flowering 
glume  and  palea  short, 
membranaceous ;  lodicules 
none ;  stamens  two. 

Species  four,  in  Europe, 
one  of  them  in  Northern 
Asia,  North  America,  and 
Australia.  A.  odoratum  L. 
(Sweet  Vernal-grass)  (Fig. 
41)  is  fragrant  on  account 
of  its  containing  cumarin, 
and  is  often  wrongly  con- 
sidered a  valuable  forage- 

Fio.  41.  —  Anthoxanthum    odoratum   L.      ,  .,     ,,  ,  , 

(After  Nees,  Gen.  Germ.  pi.  16.)  plant  ;   it    lOrniS    a   low  turf 

which  can  scarcely  be  mowed,  and  its  taste  is  unpleasant 
to  cattle. 

99.  (104)  Hierochloe  Gmelin  (Savastana  Schrad.,  Dis- 
arrenum  Labill.,    Torresia  Ruiz  &  Pav.).      Inflorescence 
an  open  or  close  panicle.     Spikelets  shining,  having  one 
apparently  terminal  $  flower  with  two  stamens,  and  1-2 
$  flowers  below,  each  with   three  stamens'.     Flowering 

glume  of  the  male  flower  frequently  awned.  Glumes  all 
membranaceous,  those  surrounding  the  fruit  indurated. 
All  contain  cumarin. 

Species  thirteen,  throughout 
the  temperate  and  frigid  zones, 
rarely  in  high  mountains  of 
the  tropics.  H.  odorata  Wahlb., 
Vanilla  grass  (Fig.  42),  is  very 
fragrant,  but  useless  for  for- 
age, as  it  is  disliked  by  most 
animals.  [The  long  leaves  of 
the  sterile  shoots  are  woven 

into  mats    and    Small    boxes    by  FiB.42.-HierochloeodorataW&hlb 

the  North  American  Indians.] 

The  five  species  with  only  one  $  flower  form  the  section 

Ataxia  (Brown  as  a  genus). 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA.  95 


TRIBE  VIII.—  AGBOSTIDEJS. 

Spikelets  usually  all  $ ,  one-flowered,  rachilla  some- 
times prolonged  beyond  the  palea.  Empty  glumes  often 
somewhat  unequal,  usually  as  long  as  or  longer  than  the 
flowering  glume,  very  rarely  none ;  palea  usually  two- 
nerved  ;  grain  not  sulcate ;  embryo  usually  small ; 
starch-grains  compound. 

A.  Flowering  glume  indurated  at  maturity  (at  least  firmer 
in  texture  than  the  empty  glumes}  and  very  closely  en- 
veloping the  fruit.     (Sub-tribe  Stipece.) 
a.  Spikelets  all  $ ,  fertile. 

a.  Eachilla  not  prolonged  beyond  the  palea. 

I.  Flowering  glume  deeply   three-cleft,  each 
segment  awned  ;  palea  two-awned. 

100.  Amphipogon. 

II.  Flowering  glume  entire,  awned  ;  awn  trifid 
or  three-branched  (lateral  divisions  often 

very  short) 1O1.  Aristida. 

III.  Flowering   glume   entire     [two-toothed  or 
bifid] ;  awn  simple. 

1°.  Lodicules     usually     three,     flowering 
glume  and  palea  finally  very  hard. 
*  Flowering    glume    narrow.      Awn 

twisted,  stout,  persistent. 

102.  Stipa. 

**  Flowering     glume     broad,      awn 
slender,  falling  off  after  flowering, 
t  Flowering  glume  elliptical  or 
ovate,  not  gibbous  at  top ;  awn 
terminal   or   but  slightly  ec- 
centric ;  embryo  small. 

103.  Oryzopsis. 

ft  Flowering  glume  obliquely 
obovate,  gibbous  at  top ;  awn 
decidedly  eccentric ;  embryo 
small. 

O    Palea     membranaceous, 
without  nerves  or  keel. 

104.  Nassella. 


96  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

O  O  Palea  coriaceous,  two- 
keeled,  with  a  deep  furrow 
between  the  keels. 

105.  Piptochsetium. 

2°.  Lodicules  two  (anterior) ;  awns  slender, 
sometimes  reduced  to  a  mere  point. 
Palea  simply  membranaceous,.  spike- 
lets  small.  .  .  .  108.  Muhlenbergia. 

(N.B.    Compare  Limnas.) 

IV.  Flowering  glume  awnless.     .     1O6.  Milium. 
ft.  Rachilla  with  a  pedicel-like  prolongation   be- 
yond the  palea. 

I.  Both  empty  glumes  much  shorter  than  the 
flowering  glume,  the  latter  with  a  straight, 
terminal  awn.  .  .  .  100.  Brachyelytrum. 
II.  Second  empty  glume  one  fourth  shorter  than 
flowering  glume,  the  latter  with  a  terminal, 
recurved  awn.  .  .  .  110.  Podophorus. 

b.  One  $  and  one  $  (or  sterile  spikelet)  in  pairs  on 
each  branchlet  of  a  spike-like  panicle,  these  branch- 
lets  deciduous  at  the  time  of  fruiting.  111.  Lycurus. 

c.  £  spikelets  surrounded  at  the  base  with  numerous 
sterile  (and  a  few  $ )  spikelets  which  are  either  re- 
duced to  bristles  or  delicate  bracts. 

112.  Perieilema. 

d.  Spikelets  dioecious,  the  ?  solitary  upon  long  pedi- 
cels  107.  Aciachne. 

B.  Flowering  glume  usually  hyaline  or  membranaceous  at 
maturity,  at  least  more  delicate  than  the  empty  glumes; 
grain  loosely  or  not  at  all  enclosed. 

a.  Stigmas  sub-plumose  (their  very  short  hairs 
springing  from  all  sides),  projecting  from  the  apex 
of  the  nearly  closed  glumes. 

a.  Spikelets  in  a  head  which  is  surrounded  by  a 
bell-shaped  involucre  formed  by  the  uppermost 

leaves 113.  Cornucopias. 

/3.  Spikelets  in  a  flattened  (broader  than  long)  head 

which  is  enclosed  between  two  opposite  inflated 

sheaths  with  thorn-like  blades.    .    114.  Crypsis. 

y.  Spikelets  in  a  close,  often  shortened  false  spike, 

the  upper  leaf  not  forming  an  involucre. 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GSNERA.  97 

I.  Spikelets  readily  falling  off  at  maturity. 

119.  Alopecurus. 

II.  Empty  glumes  persistent ;  flowering  glumes 
usually  deciduous. 

1°.  Flowering  glume  awned  from  below  the 
bifid  apex.      .     .     .      118.  Echinopogon. 
2°.  Flowering  glumes  awnless. 

*  Flowering  glume  somewhat  longer  than 
the  empty  ones.    .     .    115.  Heleochloa. 

**  Flowering    glume    somewhat    shorter 
than  the  empty  ones,  the  latter  with 

winged  keels 116.  Maillea. 

***  Flowering    glume    much  shorter  than 
the  wingless  empty  ones.  117.  Phleum. 
6.  Spikelets  in  a  delicate,  simple  spike. 

120.  Mibora. 

e.  Spikelets  in  a  panicle  consisting  of  small  umbel- 
like  clusters ;  empty  glumes  none. 

121.  Coleanthus. 
C.  Spikelets   in   a   short,  narrow   panicle;   empty 

glumes  short 122.  Phippsia. 

?].  Spikelets    in    a    loose,   broad    panicle,   empty 
glumes  as  long  as  the  flowering   glumes   and 

falling  off  with  them 129.  Limnas. 

b.  Stigmas  distinctly  plumose  (branchlets  distichous), 
projecting  from  the  sides  of  the  spikelets,  rarely 
remaining  enclosed  within  them. 
a.  Grain  not  covered  by  the  flowering  glume  and  pa- 
lea,  usually  with  a  loosely  attached  pericarp  which 
opens  readily  at  maturity.     .     123.  Sporobolus. 
/?.  Grain  covered  by  the  flowering  glume  and  palea, 
pericarp  adherent. 

1°.  The  entire  spikelets  deciduous  (together 
with  the  whole  or  a  part  of  the  pedicel)  at 
maturity.  The  pedicel  of  the  spikelet  often 
being  distinctly  articulated  even  at  the  time 
of  flowering. 

*  First  empty  glume  long-awned. 

125.  Chaeturus. 

**  First  and  second  empty  glumes  awned. 
126.  Polypogon. 


98  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

***  Empty   glumes   awuless   or    only    the 
second  very  short-awned. 
t  Flowering  glumes  awned  from  the 
very  point  or  not  at  all. 

127.  Garnotia. 

ft  Flowering  glume  awued  below  the 
toothed  point.    .      .   128.  Thurberia. 
[Cinna,  No.  131,  may  be  looked  for  here.] 
2°.  Empty  glumes  persistent  upon  the  unartiou- 
late  pedicel  of  the  spikelet. 
*  Palea  one-nerved,  with  one  keel ;  sta- 
men   one 131.  Cinna. 

**  Palea  two-nerved,  rarely  wanting ;  sta- 
mens three. 

t  Empty   glumes   covered   with  long 
plumose  hairs.      .     .     144.  Lagurus. 
ft  Empty  glumes  saccate  at  the  base, 
many  times  longer  than  the  flowering 
glumes.        .     .     .      134.  G-astridium. 
ttt  Empty    glumes     neither    plumose- 
hairy,  nor  saccate  at  the  base. 
Q  Flowering  glume  four-cleft,  each 
division    terminated    by    a   fine 
straight    awn   besides   a   strong 
twisted  awn  upon  the  back. 

143.  Pentapogon. 

O  O  Flowering  glumes  two-cleft,  the 
divisions  awn-pointed,    and   be- 
tween these  an  awn  that  is  tor- 
tuous below.        142.  Diplopogon. 
O  O  O  Flowering  glumes  with  two  fine 
lateral  awns  exceeding  the  length 
of  the  glume,  and  a  delicate  dor- 
sal awn.  141.  Trisetaria. 
D  O  O  O  Flowering  glume  with  a  delicate 
awn,  inserted  below  the  point  and 
many  timeslongerthanthe  glume. 
<]    Second   empty  glume  larger 
than  the  first.     .     139.  Apera. 
<  <i   Empty  glumes  equal. 

140.  Dichelachne. 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA.  99 

O  O  O  O  O  Flowering  glumes  different  from 

those  under  O  to  OOOO. 
<    Callus,  or  prolongation  of  the 
rachilla,    having    a     tuft     of 
hairs   at   least   one   third  as 
long  as  the  flowering  glume. 
X  Spikelets  all  $  . 

D  Flowering  glume  and 
palea  thin  -  membrana- 
ceous. 

136.  Calamagrostis. 
D  n   Flowering    glume    and 
palea  chartaceous,  pan- 
icle spike-like. 

138.  Ammophila. 
n  D  D   Flowering    glume    and 
palea  chartaceous,  pan- 
icles expanded. 

138a.  Calamovilfa. 
XX  Spikelets  unisexual. 

137.  Cinnagrostis. 

«3  <3   Callus  naked  or  with  a  few 
very  short  hairs. 
X  Spikelets  in  a  long,  narrow, 
many-flowered  panicle. 

124.  Epicampcs. 
XX  Panicles  pyramidal,  oval, 
or  short  and  spike-like. 
D    Empty   glumes   some- 
what shorter  than  the 
flowering     glumes, 
spikelets  large. 

130.  Arctagrostis. 
O  D   Empty  glumes  longer 
than      the      flowering 
glumes. 

§  Without  a  distinct 
prolongation  of  the 
rachilla  beyond  the 
palea.  132.  Agrostis. 


100 


THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 


§§  With  a  distinct, 
bristle-like,  naked 
prolongation  of  the 
rachilla. 

133.  Chaetotropis. 

§§§  With  a  distinct  pro- 
longation     of      the 
rachilla  in  the  form 
of  a  pencil  of  hairs. 
135.  Triplachne. 

SUB-TRIBE  1.— Stipeae. 
Fruiting  glume  more  or  less  indurated,  closely  embracing  the  grain. 

100.  (119)  Amphipogon  Brown  (Gamelytrum  Nees). 
Inflorescence  capitate,  or  a  dense  spike-like  panicle  with 
numerous  awns,  even  the  palea  having  two  long  awns. 

Species  five,  in  Australia. 
Pentacraspedon  Steud.  belongs 
here. 

101.  (108)  Aristida  L.  Pani- 
cles usually  expanded.  Empty 
glumes  usually  longer  than  the 
flowering  ones,  the  latter  with 
a  pointed  callus ;  palea 
shorter  ;  lodicules  two. 

Species  about  one  hundred, 
in  the  warmer  portions  of  both 
hemispheres,  very  few  in  the 
temperate  parts  of  Europe  and 
Asia,  but  numerous  in  North 
America. 

Sec.  I.  Chcetaria  (Beauv.  as 
a  genus).  Awns  naked,  not 
deciduous.  A.  ccpridescens  Desf. 
(Fig.  43),  in  South  Europe  and 
North  Africa.  A.  hygrometrica 
in  Queensland,  is  dangerous  to 
sheep  (see  page  30).  Strep- 
tachne  Kunth  ( Ortachne  Nees) 
has  either  no  lateral  awns  or  only  very  short  ones. 


FIG.  43.— Aristida  ccemlescens  Desf 
(Trin.,  Spec.  Gram.  pi.  313.) 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND   GENERA. 


101 


Sec.  II.  Arthratherum  (Beauv.  as  a  genus).  Awns 
naked,  deciduous. 

Sec.  III.  Stipagrostis  (Nees  as  a  genus.  Schistachne, 
Fig.  &  De  Notar.).  Awns  plumose,  deciduous.  Grasses  of 
the  high  plains  and  deserts  of  Africa  and  Western  Asia. 

102.  (109)  Stipa  L.  Panicles  usually  expanded,  empty 
glumes  narrow,  often  awned,  longer  than  the  flowering 
glumes,  the  latter  usually  with  a 
hairy  callus ;  awns  geniculate, 
usually  twisted  below  the  genicu- 
lation,  finally  deciduous. 

Species  about  one  hundred, 
distributed  throughout  the  tem- 
perate and  tropical  zones,  growing 
especially  on  elevated  plateaus 
and  savannas,  and  upon  rocky 
soil.  Leaves  frequently  filiform 
or  stiff  and  rush-like. 

St.  pennata  L.,  with  long  plu- 
mose awns,  together  with  St.  tirsa 
Stev.  and  the  following  species 
(viz.,  St.  capittata),  form  the  prin- 
cipal  grasses  of  the  Russian 
Steppes.  St.  pennata  is  also  an 
ornamental  grass  for  dry  bou- 
quets. 

St.   capiUata   L.  (Fig.  44)   has 
naked  awns  that  are  curved  irreg-  FIG.  44.-stipa  capiiiata  L.,  cai, 
ularly  back  and  forth  towards  the 

end.  The  fruiting  glume  with  its  pointed  callus  easily 
bores  through  the  skin  of  sheep,  reaches  the  intestines 
and  causes  death  (especially  in  Eussia),  as  does  the 
"  Porcupine  grass"  (St.  spartea  Trin.)  of  North  America. 
Upon  the  prairies  and  especially  upon  the  elevated  plains 
of  the  West  the  numerous  species  of  Stipa  form  a  con- 
siderable portion  of  the  "  bunch"  grasses,  and  furnish 
much  but  rather  coarse  grazing  for  stock.  St.  tenacissima 
L.  (MacrocHoa  tenacissima  Kunth)  is  called  "Esparto"  in 
Spain  and  Haifa  or  Alfa  in  North  Africa ;  it  has  con- 
tracted panicles,  two-cleft  flowering  glumes  awued  from 


cul 


102  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

between  the  teeth,  and  very  long,  stiff,  cylindrical  leaves  ; 
it  yields  material  from  which  shoes,  mats,  ropes,  etc., 
are  woven,  and  from  which  paper  is  manufactured ;  it  is 
exported  in  bulk  from  Spain,  Algiers,  and  Morocco, 
especially  to  England.  It  is  worthy  of  note  that  certain 
species  of  Stipa  act  upon  cows,  and  more  especially  upon 
horses,  as  narcotics.  This  fact  is  established  in  regard 
to  St.  inebrians  Hance,  St.  viridula  Trin.,  and  a  species 
growing  in  Cashmere,  probably  St.  Sibirica  Lam. 

To  the  genus  Stipa  belong  a  large  number  of  groups 
of  species  which  may  be  regarded  as  poorly  denned  sec- 
tions, which  have  been  distinguished  by  some  as  genera ; 
viz.,  MacrocMoa  Kunth,  Aristella  Bertol.,  Streptachne 
Brown  (Orthoraphium  Nees),  Jarava  Ruiz  &  Pavon, 
Lasiagrostis  Link  (Achnatherum  Beauv.),  and  Ptilagrostis 
Griseb. 

103.  (110)  Oryzopsis    Michaux   (Piptatherum    Beauv., 
Urachne.  Trin.    (in    part),  Dilepyrum    Rann.).      Distin- 
guished from  Stipa  by  its  broader  flowering  glumes  with 
their  shorter,  more  slender  and  deciduous  awns ;  lodi- 
cules  often  only  two  ;  epiblast  of  the  embryo  short. 

Species  fifteen,  in  the  northern  temperate  zones  of 
both  hemispheres.  Eriocoma  Nutt.  (Fendleria  Steud.) 
forms  a  section  with  two  species,  in  western  N.  America, 
distinguished  by  the  long  and  densely  haired  flowering 
glume. 

104.  (110  §)  Nassella  Desv.     Palea  short,  membrana- 
ceous,  nerveless  ;    epiblast   projecting  beyond   the  plu- 
mule. 

Species  eight,  in  Peru,  Chili,  and  the  Argentine  lie- 
public. 

105.  (110  §)  Piptochaetium  Presl.      Palea   coriaceous, 
its  apex  projecting  beyond  the  flowering  glume  ;  epiblast 
large. 

Species  five,  in  extra-tropical  South  America. 

106.  (Ill)  Milium  L.  (Miliarium  Mrench).      Fruiting 
glumes  strongly  indurated,  shining  as  in  Panicum;  pani- 
cles diffuse. 

Species  5-6,  in  Europe  and  the  temperate  portions  of 
Asia,  one  also  in  North  America  (M.  effusum  L.),  a  forest 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA. 


103 


grass  with  drooping  leaves,  the  blades  of  which  are  re- 
versed (see  page  8). 

107.  (112)  Aciachne    Benth.      A    dwarf    grass    with 
closely  two-ranked,  short  leaves  and  a  single  ?  spikelet 
terminating  the  culm.     Fruiting  glume  with  a  long  sub- 
ulate point.      $  spikelets  unknown. 

Species  one  (A.  pidvinata),  in  the  Andes  of  the  tropics. 

108.  (113)  Muhlenbergia  Schreb.  (Fig.  45).     Panicles 


FIG.  ^.^Muhlenbergia  dif- 
fusa  Schreb.,  above  ;  M.  syl- 
vatica  Torr  ,  below.  (After 
A.  Gray,  Man.  pi.  8.) 


FIG.  45a.—  ~Sea.Ua  Mexicana,  Scrib- 
ner  (provisional) ;  C.  Empty 
glumes;  C.  2.,  Dorsal  view  of  ex- 
panded empty  glume;  D  and  E, 
Flowering  glume  and  palea;  Z>, 
Dorsal  view  of  flowering  glume ;  St, 
stamen;  J,  Pistil;  K,  Fruit.  (Orig- 


contracted  or  diffuse  ;  spikelets  small,  awns  often  bent 
or  flexuose  but  rarely  twisted.     Very  varying  in  habit. 

Species  about  sixty,  mostly  American,  a  few  in  Japan 
and  in  the  mountains  of  Asia.  Vaseya  Thurber,  Podo- 
scemum  Desv.,  Tosagris  Beauv.,  Tricliochloa  Beauv., 


104  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

Clomena  Beauv.,  and  Calycodon  Nutt.  are  all  founded 
upon  one  or  several  species  of  this  genus.  Clomena 
Beauv.,  to  which  Bealia  Scrib.  belongs,  found  in  Mexico 
and  Peru,  forms  a  sub-genus  characterized  by  the  two- 
toothed  flowering  glume  which  is  awned  between  the 
teeth.* 

109.  (114)  Brachyelytrum  Beauv.     Panicles  with  few 
spikelets ;    spikelets   long   and   narrow ;  empty   glumes 
minute ;  flowering  glume  with  a  long  straight  awn. 

Species  one  (B.  aristatum  Beauv.),  in  North  America. 

110.  Podophorus  Philippi.     Panicles  open ;  flowering 
glumes  longer  than  the  empty  ones,  narrow,  involute, 
with  a  pointed  and  short-bearded  callus  ;  awn  geniculate 
near  the  base,  but  not  twisted.     Bachilla  prolonged,  fre- 
quently bearing  an  awned,  rudimentary  glume. 

Species  one  (P.  bromoides  Ph.),  upon  the  island  of 
Juan  Fernandez. 

111.  (116)  Lycurus  Kunth  (Pleopogon  Nutt.).     Spike- 
lets   small,  narrow,  the  upper  one  of  each  pair  $ ,  the 
lower  $  or  sterile.     Lower  empty  glumes  with  2-3  awns, 
the  upper  one  and  the  flowering  glume  with  only  one. 

Species  two,  in  Mexico  and  New  Mexico. 

112.  (115)  Perieilema   Presl.     Panicles   spike-like  or 
interrupted,  covered  with  the   numberless  awns  (espe- 
cially of  the  sterile  spikelets).    Palea  and  all  the  glumes 
awned. 

Species  three,  in  Mexico  and  tropical  America. 


*  I  cannot  agree  with  Prof.  Hackel  in  this  disposition  of  Bealia  (Fig. 
45«).  There  are  several  species  of  Muhlenbergia  which  have  the  flower- 
ing glume  two-toothed,  the  awn  arising  from  between  the  teeth,  which 
certainly  do  not  belong  to  the  sub-genus  or  section  Clomena.  This  sub- 
genus  is  best  characterized  by  the  broad,  three-nerved  and  three-toothed 
second  empty  glume.  The  flowering  glume  closely  envelops  the 
conical  or  ovoid  grain.  In  Bealia  the  empty  glumes  are  entire,  sub- 
equal,  nerveless  (or  very  faintly  many-nerved),  and  the  elongated  grain 
is  only  loosely  enclosed  by  the  broad  and  deeply  two-toothed  flowering 
glume.  The  habit  of  Bealia  somewhat  resembles  that  of  the  typical 
Clomena,  and  I  at  first  named  it  Muhlenbergia  Clomenoides,  but  the 
characters  presented  by  the  empty  glumes,  flowering  glumes,  and  grain 
are  so  unlike  the  true  Muhlenbergias  that  I  can  but  consider  it  geueri- 
cally  distinct.— F.  L.  8. 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA, 


105 


SUB-TRIBE  2.—  Phleoideae. 

Fruiting  glumes  delicate.     Stigmas  with    short  branches,  projecting 
from  the  apex  of  the  spikelets. 

113.  (106)  Cornucopias  L.     A  small,   branched  grass 
with  minute  spikelets  in  small  heads ;  the  pedicels  be- 


FIG.  46.— Cornucopia  cucullatum  L.    (After  Schreber.  Beschreib.,  pi.  41.) 

come    curved   at    maturity,  when  they  separate  at  the 
jointed  base  and  bore  into  the  ground. 

Species  one  (C.  cucullatum  L.),  in  the  Orient  (Fig.  46). 

114.  (105)  Crypsis  Ait.  (Antitragus  Gartn.).     Spikelets 
small,  awnless  ;    palea  one-nerved ;  stamens  two ;  fruit 
a  utricle,  the    seed  adhering  to  the  spikelet  for  some 
time  after  it  is  expelled. 

Species  one  (C.  aculeata  Ait.),  in  the  Mediterranean 
region  and  upon  the  saline  soils  of  the  interior. 

115.  (120)  Heleochloa  Host.    (Pechea  Pourret).     Like 
the  preceding,  except  that  the  palea  is  two-nerved  and 
the  stamens  three.     The  false  spikes  are  subtended  by  a 
single  leaf. 

Species  eight,  in  the  Mediterranean  region  and  in  the 
temperate  parts  of  Asia.     Rhizocephcdus  Boiss.  belongs 


106 


THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 


here.  [H.  schcenoides  (Crypsis  schcenoides  Lam.)  has 
been  introduced  into  N.  America,  and  become  estab- 
lished about  Philadelphia.] 

116.  (121)  Maillea  Parl.     A  dwarf 
grass  with   short,  false  spikes   and 
much  compressed,  awnless  spikelets. 
Stamens  two  ;  palea  one-nerved. 

Species  one  (M.  Urvillei  Parl.), 
upon  the  Cyclades,  Sporades,  and 
also  in  Sardinia. 

117.  (122)  Phleum   L.      Inflores- 
cence   usually    in     cylindrical,    ex- 
serted,   false    spikes.     Keel   of  the 
empty  glumes  extending  into  a  point 
or  short'awn  ;  flowering  glumes  awn- 
less.      Stamens    three  ;    palea   two- 
nerved. 

Species  ten,  in  the  temperate 
zones  (except  in  Australia).  Ph. 
pratense  L.,  "  Timothy"  (Fig.  47), 
has  its  empty  glumes  truncate,  with 
a  long  fringe  upon  the  keel.  Com- 
mon in  Europe.  A  very  valuable 
grass  for  hay  in  heavy  soils. 

FIG.  47.  -  Phleum    pratense  The  Section   CMlochloa  (BeaUV.  as 

h-uif  r"(!?terelNeIs,thGine  a   genus,   AcTinodon    Link)    has   the 
Germ.  pi.  10.)  '  Achilla  prolonged  beyond  the  palea. 

Ph.  Bcehmeri,  of  central  Europe,  also  belongs  here. 

118.  (117)  Echinopogon  Beauv.     (Hystericina  Stem!.). 
False  spike  bristling  with  the  long,  straight  awns  of  the 
flowering  glumes.     Empty  glumes  awnless. 

Species  one  (E.  ovatus  P.  B.),  in  Australia  and  New 
Zealand. 

119.  (107)  Alopecurus   L.     False  spike  cylindrical  or 
ovate.     Empty  glumes  awnless,  usually  fringed  on   the 
keels  ;   flowering  glume  usually  with  a  bent,  dorsal  awn  ; 
lodicules  none,  and  palea  often  wanting.     Flowers  de- 
cidedly proterogynous. 

Species  twenty,   in   temperate   Europe  and   Asia,  a 
few   also  in  North  and  South  America  and  Australia. 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA. 


107 


A.  pratensis  L.,  "  Meadow  Foxtail,"  lias  acute,  hairy, 
empty  glumes  connate  below  the  middle ;  root-stock 
creeping  ;  culms  leafy.  An  excellent  fodder-grass,  espe- 
cially for  wet  meadows.  [A.  ocddentalis  Scribn.  is  a  val- 
uable hay  grass  in  the  Rocky  Mountain  region.]  The 
species  having  a  distinct  palea  are  Colobachne  Beauv. 
(as  a  genus) ;  Tozettia  Savi  is  A.  utricidatus  L. 

120.     (123)    Mibora     Adans.     (Chamagrostis  Borkh., 


FIG.  48. — Al  opecurus  praten- 
sis. (After  Nees,  Gen. 
Germ.,  I.  7.) 


FIG.  49.  —  Mibora    verna    Adans. 
(After  Nees,  Gen.  Germ.,  I.  6.) 


Knappia  Sm.,  Sturmia  Hoppe).  A  delicate,  dwarf  grass 
with  short  setaceous  leaves,  slender  spikes,  and  awnless 
glumes. 

Species  one  (M.  verna  Adans.),  in  Western  Europe 
(Fig.  49). 

121.    (124)    Coleanthus    Seid.  (Schmidtia  Trattiu).     A 


108 


THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 


dwarf,  prostrate  grass  with  the  base  of  the  panicle  en- 
closed in  the  inflated  upper  leaf-sheath.  Stamens  two, 
alternating  with  the  flowering  glumes  and  palea.  Grain 
projecting  beyond  the  flower. 

Species  one  (C.  siihtilis  Seid.)  (Fig.  50),  on  the  muddy 
banks  of  rivers,  lakes,  and  ponds.     Distribution  remark  - 


Fio.    50.  —  Coleanthiis    subtilis    Seid. 
(After  Nees,  Gen.  Germ.,  I.  27.) 


FIG.  51,—Sporobolus 
pungens  Kunth.  Br.t 
Mature  spikelet ;  Kt, 
Ky,  Fruit,  opened  and 
discharging  the  seed. 
(After  Nees.) 


able :  Bohemia,  Moravia,  Lower  Austria,  Tyrol,  France, 
Norway,  Amur,  Oregon,  and  Washington. 

122.  (125)  Phippsia  Brown.  Dwarf  ;  panicle  mostly 
enclosed  in  the  leaf-sheath ;  spikelets  minute  ;  stamen 
one. 

Species  one  (P.  dgida  Br.),  in  the  arctic  polar  regions, 
also  on  the  higher  Fjelden. 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND   GENERA.          109 


SUB-TRIBE  3.— Euagrosteae. 

Fruiting  glume  delicate  ;   stigmas  pectinately  branched,  usually  pro- 
jecting from  the  sides  of  the  spikelets. 

123.  (126)  Sporobolus  Brown  ( Vilfa  Beauv.  non  Adans., 
Agrosticula  Raddi,  Cryptostachys  Steud.)  (Fig.  51).    Pani- 
cles variable.      Spikelets  small,  awnless,  naked ;  flower- 
ing glume  and  palea  usually  exceeding  the  empty  glumes. 
Palea  bifid.     Fruit  a  utricle  ;  the  expelled  seed  usually 
remains  adherent  for  a  time  to  the  spikelet. 

Species  eighty,  chiefly  in  temperate  and  tropical 
America,  but  also  in  the  warmer  parts  of  Africa  and 
Asia.  One  species  (S.pungens  Kunth)  in  Europe.  Peren- 
nial, meadow  grasses  of  the  American  prairies.  [S.  cryp- 
tamdrus  Gray,  a  valuable  forage-grass.]  Diachyrium 
Griseb.  and  Triachyrium  Hochst.  are  founded  upon  the 
erroneous  conception  of  two  separate  paleae;  the  divi- 
sion or  splitting  of  the  palea  arises  mechanically  during 
the  ripening  of  the  fruit. 

124.  (127)  Epicampes  Presl.      Flowering  glume  with 
a  delicate,  often  deciduous,  or  rudimentary  awn  on  the 
point ;  fruit  apparently  a  true  caryopsis. 

Species  twelve,  from  California  to  the  Andes,  in  the 
Argentine  Republic.  Crypsinna  and  Bauchea  Fourn. 
belong  here. 

125.  (130)  Chaeturus  Link.     Panicle  contracted,  short. 
Spikelets    very  narrow,   in    twos   or   threes   upon  each 
branchlet ;  flowering  glumes  somewhat  shorter  than  the 
empty  ones,  awnless.     Low,  annual  grasses. 

Species  two,  Ch.  fascicvlatus  Link  and  Ch.  prostratus 
Hack,  and  Lange,  upon  the  Iberian  Peninsula. 

126.  (131)  Polypogon  Desf.  (Santia  Savi,  Raspalia  and 
Nowodivorskya    Presl)   (Fig.    52).      Panicles   contracted 
or  spike-like,  often   interrupted.       Empty   glumes   fre- 
quently  bifid,  their   awns   usually   long    and   slender ; 
flowering  glumes  awned.     The  numerous  awns  impart  a 
bristly  appearance  to  the  inflorescence. 

Species  ten,  in  the  warm  temperate  zones  of  both 
hemispheres.  Two  in  the  tropics.  P.  Monspeliensis 


110 


THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 


Desf.  and  P.  maritimus  Willd.  in  the  Mediterranean  re- 
gion. [Introduced  into  North 
America.] 

127.  (50)  Garnotia  Broiign.  (Mi- 
qudia  Nees,  Berghausia  Endlich). 
Spikelets  small,  in  pairs  along  the 
branches  of  the  usually  expanded 
panicles.     Flowering  glumes  with 
slender,    slightly    bent   awns,    or 
awnless. 

Species   eight,    from    Eastern 
India  to  Japan. 

128.  (48)     Thurberia     Benth. 
(Greenia  Nutt.  non  Walk,  et  Arn., 
Sclerachne      Torr.     non     Brown). 
Spikelets  narrow,  solitary   along 
the     branches     of     the     panicle. 
Empty  glumes  rather  hard.     Awu 
of    the    flowering   glume  genicu- 
late,  twisted  below. 

Species  two  ( T.  Arkansana  and 
T.  pilosa),  Arkansas  and  Texas. 

129.  (49)  Limnas  Trin.      Pani- 
cles  loose,   few-flowered  ;  all   the 

glumes  firm  in  texture  ;  empty  glumes  with  three  prom- 
inent nerves ;  awns  dorsal  near  the  base,  bent  and 
twisted  ;  styles  connate  below. 

Species  one  (L.  Stelleri  Trin.),  in  Eastern  Siberia. 

130.  (132)  Arctagrostis  Griseb.     Panicles  contracted, 
narrow,  few-flowered.     Spikelets   large   (for  the  tribe), 
awnless.     Flowering  glume  herbaceo-membranaceous. 

Species  one  (A.  latifolia  Griseb.),  arctic-circumpolar. 

131.  Cinna    L.   (134)   (Abola  Adans.,    Blyttia  Fries). 
Panicles     elongated,    many-flowered,    spikelets    small  ; 
flowering  glumes  with  a  very  short  awn  just  below  the 
point.     [Rachilla  usually  prolonged,  naked.] 

Species  two,  C.  pendula  Trin.  and  C.  arundinacea  L., 
in  Northern  Europe  and  North  America. 

132.  (129)  Agrostis  L.     Panicles  variable,  usually  dif- 
fuse  and    many-flowered ;     spikelets     small,    flowering 


Germ.,  i.  32.) 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA. 


Ill 


glumes  thin-membranaceous,  or  hyaline,  awnless,  or  often 
with  a  bent  awn  inserted  below  the  middle  of  the  back  ; 
two  lateral  nerves  sometimes  also  projecting  into  very 
short  awns  ;  palea  usually  short,  often  minute  or  none. 

Species  about  one  hundred,  distributed  over  the  entire 
globe,  especially  in  the  north  tem- 
perate zone,  where  they  constitute 
the  more  important  meadow  grasses, 
though  the  foliage  is  too  low  and  too 
delicate  to  produce  a  great  quantity 
of  forage.'  A.  cdbd  L., "  Fiorin  grass" 
(Fig.  53),  has  a  long  ligule,  pyram- 
idal panicles  which  are  contracted 
after  flowering,  and  usually  awnless 
spikelets.  It  is  a  valuable  fodder- 
grass,  especially  for  moist  lands, 
moors,  etc.  ;  the  same  is  true  of 
the  related  A.  vidgaris  With.  ("  Red 
Top"),  which  has  a  shorter  ligule 
and  panicles  more  open  after  flower- 
ing. A.  nebulosa  Boiss.  &  Reut.,  a 
native  of  Spain,  has  extremely  deli- 
cate panicles  and  very  small  spike- 
lets  ;  it  is  commonly  cultivated  for 
dry  bouquets.  The  genus  Tricho-  Jt 
dium  Schrad.  comprises  those  spe-  FIG.  *s.— Agrostis  alba  L. 

,         .  ,  (After  Nees,   Gen.   Germ.,  I. 

cies  having  the  palea  rudimentary     29.) 

or  wranting.     Bromidlum  has  a  spike-like  panicle. 

133.  (136)  Chaetotropis  Kunth.      Distinguished    from 
the  preceding  by  its  very  compact  panicle,  fringed  keel 
of   the   empty  glumes,  and   distinct   projection   of   the 
rachilla  beyond  the  palea. 

Species  one  (Ch.  Chiknsis  Kunth),  in  Chili. 

134.  (135)  Gastridium  Beauv.     Panicles  dense,  spike- 
like ;  spikelets  narrow,  shining;  rachilla  produced  be- 
yond the  palea,  flowering  glumes  one  third  as  long  as 
the  empty  ones,  awnless  or  awned. 

Species  two,  G.  australe  Beauv.,  G.  scabrum  Presl,  in 
the  Mediterranean  region. 

135.  (137)  Triplachne   Link.     Panicles    short,  spike- 


112  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

like,  shining,  flowering  glume  downy  ;  awns  almost  basal, 
geniculate. 

Species  one  (T.  miens  Link),  in  the  western  countries 
of  the  Mediterranean  region. 

136.  (133)  Calamagrostis  Roth  (Figs.  54  and  55).    Pani- 
cles very  variable ;  hairs  on  the  callus  of  the  flowering 

glume  sometimes  short  and  sometimes 
longer  than  the  glume  itself,  which  is 
usually  thin-membranaceous  and  vari- 
ously awned.  Frequently  reed-like  in 
habit.  The  spikelets  usually  larger 
than  those  of  Agrostis. 

Sec.  I.  Epigeos  Koch.  Rachilla  not 
produced ;  hairs  on  the  callus  usually 
long. 

Species  ten,  in  the  north  temperate 
zone  of  the  Old  World,  including  C. 
Epigeos  (L.)  Roth,  C.  titorea  DC.,  (7. 
lanceolata  Roth,  and  C.  Halleriana  DC. 
Sec.  II.  Deyeuxia  Beauv.  (as  a 
genus).  Usually  with  a  hairy  prolongation 
of  the  rachilla ;  callus  hairs  shorter  than  in 
Sec.  I,  very  rarely  wanting. 

Species  over  one  hundred  and  twenty, 
distributed  throughout  all  the  temperate 
and  arctic  zones,  also  upon  the  high  moun- 
tains of  the  tropics ;  about  sixty  species  in 
the  Andes  alone.  [Calamagrostis  Tweedyi, 
Suksdorfii,  Montanensis,  and  ambigua  Scribn. 
are  Rocky  Mountain  species.] 

Achcete  Fourri.,  Relchela  Steud.,  Cinnas-  FlG  55JJ 
trum  Fourn.  are  more  or  less  anomalous  ^f!<L 
species  of  this  section.  (Getfr  Germe,ei! 

137.  (139)  Cinnagrostis  Griseb.     Like  the     34  •> 
preceding,  but  with  unisexual  spikelets ;  rachilla  with  a 
long  and  very  hairy  prolongation  ;  callus  short,  bearded. 

Species  one  (C.  polygama  Griseb.),  in  the  Argentine 
Republic. 

138.  (141)  Ammophila  Host.  (Psamma  Beauv.)     Pani- 
cles usually  narrow  and  spike-like.     Flowering  glume 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA.          113 

and  palea  chartaceous,  somewhat  indurated,  awnless; 
spikelets  comparatively  large. 

Species  one,  A.  arundinacea  Host.  ("  Sand  reed"),  has 
long,  creeping  rhizomes,  and  cylindrical,  false  spikes. 
On  the  sandy  coasts  of  Europe  and  the  Atlantic  States  of 
N.  America,  rarely  in  the  interior.  This  grass  is  fre- 
quently planted  for  binding  the  dunes  and  loose  sands, 
as  it  penetrates  these  by  a  thick  network  of  rhizomes 
that  withstands  the  strongest  washing  of  the  waves.  A 
cross  (A.  Baltica  Link)  is  sometimes  formed  with  Cala- 
magrostis  Epigeos  Both. 

OBS.  — Very  nearly  related  to  Ammophila  are  two  N.  American  spe- 
cies, Calamagrostis  brempilis  Gray  and  C.  longifolia  Hook.,  with  the 
loose  panicle  of  Calamagrostis,  but  the  chartaceous  flowering  glumes  of 
Ammophila,  distinct  from  both  genera  by  the  one-nerved  flowering 
glumes  ;  they  may  best  be  considered  a  separate  genus,  Calamomlfa 
(Gray  as  a  sect,  of  Calamagrostis).  (Hackel  in  MS.) 

[138a.  Calamovilfa.  Empty  glumes  unequal ;  flower- 
ing glumes  one-nerved  ;  rachilla  not  prolonged. 

Species  two,  in  N.  America  (C.  brevipilis  of  the 
Atlantic  coast,  and  C.  longifolia  of  the  western  interior). 
These  species  are  referred  to  Ammophila  in  B.  &  H.  Gen. 
PL,  vol.  Ill,  p.  1153.] 

139.  (138)  Apera  Adans.  (Anemagrostis  Trin.).     Pani- 
cles loose,  spikelets  delicate  ;  rachilla  prolonged,  naked. 
Awns  four  times  as  long  as  the  flowering  glumes,  straight 
or  somewhat  geniculate. 

Species  two,  in  Europe  and  Western  Asia.  A.  Spica- 
Venti  Beauv.  is  often  a  troublesome  weed  in  crops.  [In- 
troduced into  United  States  about  Philadelphia,  etc.] 

140.  (142)  Dichelachne   Endl.      Panicles   dense,   long 
and  narrow,  bristly  on  account  of  the  numerous  awns ; 
rachilla  very  slightly  produced ;  awns  very  long,  some- 
what flexuous,  not  bent. 

Species  two  (D.  crinita  and  D.  sciurea  Hook.),  from 
Australia  to  New  Zealand. 

141.  (143)  Trisetaria  Forsk.  (Anomalotis  Steud.).  Pani- 
cles long  and  narrow  ;  rachilla  prolonged,  pedicel-like  ; 
middle  awn  from  the  back  of  the  flowering  glume,  genic- 
ulate, twisted  below  ;  lateral  awns  delicate,  straight. 


114 


THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 


Species  two   (T.  linearis  Forsk.  and    T.  quinqueseta 
Hochst.),  in  Egypt  and  Abyssinia. 

142.  (118)  Diplopogon     Brown     (Dipogonia    Beauv.). 
False   spikes   capitate;    rachilla   not  prolonged;  palea 
with  two  awns  ;    middle   awn  of  the  flowering  glumes 
tendril-like  below,  recurved  above. 

Species  one  (D.  setaceus  Brown),  in  Western  Australia. 

143.  (144)  Pentapogon  Brown.    Panicles  narrow,  dense  ; 
rachilla    prolonged,   pedicel-like  ;   middle    awn   of    the 

flowering  glume  dorsal,  twisted 
below,  at  length  geniculate, 
longer  than  the  four  lateral  awns. 

Species  one  (P.  Billardieri 
Brown),  in  Tasmania  and  Vic- 
toria. 

144.  (145)  Lagurus  L.     Pani- 
cles spike-like  or  capitate  ;  spike- 
lets  thickly  clothed  in   the  fine, 
woolly  hairs  covering  the  empty 
glumes,  from  which   project  the 
lonS   dorsal    awns    of    flowering 
glumes  ;  lateral  awns  short. 
Species  one  (L.  ovatus  L.)  (Fig.  56),  in  the  Mediter- 
ranean region  ;  frequently  cultivated  for  dry  bouquets. 


TRIBE  IX.— AVENEJE. 

Spikelets  2-oo  -flowered  (only  one-flowered  in  Aniso- 
pogori) ;  inflorescence  in  panicles,  rarely  in  spikes ; 
all  flowers  $  or  one  $  ;  empty  glumes  often  persistent 
or  remaining  after  the  fruiting  glumes  have  fallen,  usu- 
ally longer  than  the  flowering  glumes,  the  latter  usually 
awned  on  the  back,  sometimes  near  the  point ;  awn  ge- 
niculate, rarely  nearly  straight ;  palea  two-keeled  ;  style 
short  or  none.  Stigmas  feathery,  protruding  above  the 
base  or  middle  of  the  spikelet.  Grain  usually  furrowed  ; 
embryo  small ;  starch-grains  compound. 

A.  Spikelets  readily  deciduous  as  a  whole.    ..    145.  Holcus. 

B.  Fruiting  glumes  deciduous,  empty  glumes  persistent. 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA.          115 

a.  Spikelets  strictly  two-flowered,  racliilla  not  pro- 
longed. 

a.  Empty  glumes  cartilaginous  on  the  back  ;  keel 
with  pectinate  teeth.    .     .     .     146.  Prionachne. 
/?.  Empty  glumes  membranaceous. 

I.  Flowering  glumes  long  ciliate-fringed  on 
the  back  or  margins  ;  palea  naked  ;  empty 
glumes  broad,  many-nerved.  147.  Eriachne. 

II.  Flowering  glumes  and  palea,  especially 
the  latter,  with  a  long  fringe  on  the  keels. 
Empty  glumes  narrow,  1-3-nerved. 

148.  Zenkeria. 
III.  Flowering  glumes  and  palea  naked. 

1.  Upper    flower   in   each   spikelet   on   a 
rather  long   pedicel,  smaller   than  the 
lower  one,   ? .      .     .     .     ISO.  Coelachne. 

2.  Both  flowers    nearly  sessile,  of   equal 
size,  £ . 

*  Palea  many-nerved.     149.  Micraira. 
**  Palea  two-nerved. 

t  Empty     glumes      semi-globose. 
Panicle  spike-like.  151.  Airopsis. 
ft  Empty  glumes  not  semi-globose. 
Panicle  expanded. 
O  Empty  glumes  evidently  long- 
er than  the  flowering  glumes. 
<   Flowering  glume  truncate, 
slightly      three  -  toothed, 
awnless.       153.  Antinoria. 
<]  <   Flowering    glumes     two- 
toothed,  awned. 

152.  Aira. 

OO  Empty   glume    shorter   than 
the  flowering  glume. 

154.  Molineria. 
NOTE.— Compare  Isachne. 

b.  Spikelets  2-oo  -flowered   (except  Anisopogori),  ra- 
chilla  prolonged  beyond  the  upper  flower. 

a.  Flowering  glume  awnless  or  with  a  short  ter- 
minal awn.     Spikelets  small.  .     155.  Achneria. 
ft.  Awn  of  the  floAvering  glume  upon  the  back  (i.e., 


116  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

rising  from  below  the  teeth  of  the  point,  not 
betiveen  them). 

I.  Spikelets   in    an    open    (rarely    spike-like) 
panicle,  not  in  a  true  spike. 

1.  Flowers  all  $  or  the  upper  ones  $ ,  or 
sterile. 

*  Grain    free,    unfurrowed.     Spikelets 

usually  small  (less  than  1  cm.  long). 

O  Flowering    glumes    finely    erose- 

dentate,  or  two-lobed,  or  with  the 

edges  entire. 

<]   Awns  not  articulated,  the  point 
fine.      .     .      157.  Deschampsia. 

<  <   Awns    articulated,   the    point 

club-shaped. 

156.  Corynephorus. 

OO  Flowering    glume    cleft    or   two- 
toothed  with  the  teeth  sometimes 
produced  into  awns. 
<   Lower  flower  awnless,  spike- 
lets  narrowly  oblong. 

159.  Ventenata. 

<  <   Lower  flower  awned.    Spikelets 

elliptical-lanceolate. 

158.  Trisetum. 

**  Grain  furrowed,  usually  adherent  to 
the  glumes  ;  spikelets  over  1  cm.  long. 
O  Only  two  nerves  of  the  flowering 
glume  reach  the  point ;  grain  hairy 
at  the  apex.     .     .     .     160.  Avena. 
O  O  Nerves  five,  prominent,  all  extend- 
ing to  the  point ;  grain  naked. 

161.  Amphibromus. 

2.  Upper  flower  £ ,  the  lower  $  and  strongly 
awned 162.  Arrhenatherum. 

II.  Spikelets    in    a    trua,    two-ranked,  simple 

spike 163.  Gaudinia. 

y.  Awns  from  between  the  lobes  or  teeth  of  the 
flowering  glume;  the  teeth  also  frequently 
awned. 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA.          117 

• 

I.  Spikelets  two-flowered,  upper  flower  $  or 
?  ,  lower  $  . 

1.  Spikelets    in   threes,   terminal    on    the 
branches  of  the  panicle.    164.  Tristachya. 

2.  Spikelets     solitary,     terminal     on     the 
branches  of  the  panicle. 

165.  Trichopteryx. 
II.  All  the  flowers  £  ,  or  the  upper  imperfect. 

1.  Spikelets  one-flowered,  very  large. 

166.  Anisopogon. 

2.  Spikelets  3-QO -flowered.    167.  Danthonia. 

NOTE. — Compare    the    Festucem;    GrapTwphorum, 
Scliismus,  Dupontia,  Dissanthelium  (all  awnless). 

145.  (157)  Holcus  L.  (in  part).     Spikelets  paniculate, 
two-flowered,  upper  flower  $  (rarely 

S),  awned;  lower  $,  awnless,  its 
flowering  glumes  finally  indurated, 
shining ;  empty  glumes  keeled,  the 
upper  one  often  short-awned. 

Species  eight,  in  Europe  and 
North  Africa,  especially  the  western 
part,  one  in  Cape  Colony.  H.  lanatus 
L.  (Fig.  57),  with  woolly  or  downy 
leaves,  is  of  some  value  for  forage. 

146.  (147)  Prionachne  Nees  (Chon- 
drolcena  Nees  [Prionanthium  Desv.]). 
Panicle  narrow,  spike-like  ;  spikelets         * 

awnless,    somewhat     like     those     of  FIG.  57.— Holcus    lanatus 

_,     ,  L.    (After  A.  Gray,  Man. 

Pholans.  pi.  12.) 

Species  one  (P.  dentata  Nees),  in  South  Africa. 
Ktenosachne  Steud.  may  also  belong  here. 

147.  (146)  Eriachne  Brown  (Fig.   58).     Panicle  loose 
or    dense.      Empty     glumes     many-nerved ;    flowering 
glumes    awnless    or    with   fine    terminal   awns,  finally 
somewhat  indurated.     Two  flowers  "  apparently  inserted 
at  the  same  point,  without  any  development  of  rachilla" 
(Benth.  Notes,  Gr.  92). 

Species  about  twenty-two,  all  but  two  Asiatic  and 
Australian. 

Megcdachne  Thwaites,  belongs  here. 


118 


THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 


148.  (148)  Zenkeria  Triu.  (Amphidonax  Nees  (in  part) ). 
Panicle  loose,  empty  glumes  1-3- 
nerved ;  flowering  glumes  awrn- 
less,  the  two  flowers  closely  ap- 
proximate. 

Species  two,  East  Indian  penin- 
sula and  Ceylon. 

149.  (149)  Micraira  F.  Mull.    A 
low,  matted  grass,  with  appressed, 
subulate    leaves ;    spikelets    very 
small,  awnless,  in  loose  panicles. 

Species  one  (M.  subulifolia 
Mull.)  in  Queensland. 

150.  (150)     Coelachne     Brown. 
A  very    delicate,    often    prostrate 
grass    with   narrow  panicles  and 
small,   round,    awuless   spikelets. 
Flowers  divergent. 

Species  three,  in  East  Indies, 
South  China,  and  tropical  Aus- 
tralia. 

151.  (151)     Airopsis    Desv.      A 
delicate  annual  grass  with  nearly 

FIG.  bs.—Eriachne  giauca  R.  cylindrical     panicles.       Spikelets 

Brown.    (After   Kunth,  Rev.       J      ,,         ,    ,  .   .     . 

Gram.  pi.  64.)  small,  globose,   sliming,  awuless  ; 

the  two  flowers  very  closely  appressed  to  each  other. 

Species  one  (A.  globosa 
Desv.),  in  Southwestern  Eu- 
rope and  Northwestern  Africa. 
152.  (152)  Aira  L.  (in  part) 
(Fussia  Schur.).  Spikelets 
small,  usually  in  loose  panicles. 
Empty  glumes  thin-membra- 
naceous,  the  two  flowers  closely 
superposed.  Flowering  glumes 
usually  awned  on  the  back  (awn 
rarely  wanting),  finally  some- 
9.-AiracarvophyiieaL.  (After  what  indurated.  Delicate  an- 

Nees,  Gen.  Germ.,  1. 44.)  ,  ., ,  ,        , 

nual     grasses     with     slender 
panicle-branches. 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA.         119 

Species  six,  throughout  Europe,  especially  in  the 
South,  and  in  North  Africa,  one  species  in  all  temperate 
countries.  A.  elegans  Gaud,  and  A.  caryophyllea  L.  (Fig. 

59)  are  frequently  cultivated  for  dry  bouquets  under  the 
false  name  of  Agrostis  elegans.    Fiorinia  Parl.  is  an  awn- 
less  species. 

153.  (152)  Antinoria  Parl.     In  general  like  the  pre- 
ceding, but   the   flowers   are   separated  by  a  manifest 
internode  of  the  rachilla,  and  the  flowering  glumes  are 
different 

Species  two,  in  Southwestern  and  Southern  Europe. 

154.  (152)  Molineria  Parl.     Like   the  preceding,  but 
with   the   flowers   projecting   from    the   empty  glumes. 
Flowering  glumes  truncate  or  slightly  toothed,  awnless 
or  with  short  awns. 

Species  three,  Western  and  Southern  Europe  to  Asia 
Minor.  Periballia  Trin.  is  a  species  with  a  short,  two- 
toothed  flowering  glume. 

155.  (155)  Achneria  Munro  (non  Beauv.).     Spikelets 
small,  in  panicles ;  flowers  separated  by  a  short  inter- 
node  of  the  rachilla,  somewhat  shorter  than  the  empty 
glumes,   often   hairy.     Perennial   grasses.     Leaves   fre- 
quently convolute. 

Species  eight,  in  Southern  and  tropical  Africa  (Eri- 
aclme  of  Nees,  in  Flora  Afric.  Austr.). 

156.  (153)  Corynephorus  Beauv.  ( Weingcertneria  Bern- 
hardi).     Grasses  with  the  habit  of  Aira,  but  with  the 
rachilla  prolonged,  and  club-shaped  awns  with  a  circle 
of  short  bristles  at  the  point  of  articulation. 

Species  three,  in  Europe.      C.  canescens  Beauv.  (Fig. 

60)  grows  in  sand  fields  ;  it  is  a  hardy  but  a  poor  pasture 
grass. 

157.  (154)  Deschampsia  Beauv.    Spikelets  rather  small, 
two-flowered    (rarely  with    an  imperfect  third  flower)  ; 
panicle  loose  or  compact ;  florets  separated  by  an  inter- 
node  ;  flowering  glumes  exceeding  the  empty  ones  ;  awns 
slender. 

Species  twenty,  in  all  cold  and  temperate  countries, 
a  few  in  the  high  mountains  of  the  tropics. 

Sec.  I.   Campella  Link  (as  a  genus).     Awns  straight. 


120 


THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 


D.  ccespitosa  Beauv.  (Fig.  61),  with  large,  open  panicles, 
narrow,  rough,  hard  leaves,  forms  a  thick  turf,  and  is 
cosmopolitan.  It  is  of  little  value  for  fodder. 


FIG.  61. — Deschampxia  ccespitosa 
Beauv.  (After  Nees,  Gen.  Germ., 


FIG.  60. — Corynephorus  canescens 
Bv.  (After  Nees,  Gen.  Germ.,  I. 
42.) 


FIG.  62.  —  Trisetum  pra- 
tense  Pers.  (After  Nees. 
Gen.  Germ.,  I.  46.) 


Sec.  II.  Avendla  Parl.  (as  a  genus)  (Lerchenfeldia 
Schur.).  Awns  geniculate  (D.  flexuosa  Trin.  and  others). 

Sec.  III.  Vahlodea  Fries  (as  a  genus).  Like  Section 
II,  but  with  entire  flowering  glumes  (Airidium  Steud., 
Peyritschia  Four.,  and  Monandrah-a  Desv.  are  more  or 
less  anomalous  species). 

158.  (158)  Trisetum  Pers.  Spikelets  in  an  open  or 
close  panicle,  two-flowered,  rarely  3-6-flowered ;  empty 
glumes  unequal,  1-3-nerved ;  flowering  glumes  keeled ; 
callus  and  rachilla  usually  hairy ;  lateral  teeth  of  the 
flowering  glumes  frequently  produced  into  awns  ;  middle 
awn  geniculate. 

Species  about  fifty,  from  the  Arctic  regions  through 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA.          121 

the  north  temperate  zone,  the  high  mountains  of  the 
tropics  to  the  south  temperate  zone. 

T.  pratense  Pers.  (Avena  ftavescens  L.),  "  Golden  oats" 
(Fig.  62),  has  a  loose  panicle  and  yellow,  shining  spike- 
lets,  and  is  a  valuable  fodder-grass.  T.  subspicatum 
Beauv.  is  arctic,  alpine,  and  antarctic.  Trichceta  Beauv. 
and  Acrospelion  Bess,  are  species  of  this  genus. 

159.  (159)  Ventenata  Kolr.     Like  the  preceding,  but 
with  the  flowering  glumes  of  the  lower  floret  entire  and 
awnless,  and  the  spikelets  longer  and  narrower  ;  empty 
glumes  3-5-nerved. 

Species  three,  Europe  (V.  avenacea  Kolr.)  and  the 
Orient. 

160.  (160)  Avena  L.     Spikelets  2-6-flowered  (rarely 
one-flowered)  in  panicles.     Empty  glumes  membrana- 
ceous,  unequal ;  flowering  glumes  rounded  on  the  back, 
5-9-nerved,  often  two-toothed  ;  awn  dorsal,  geniculate, 
twisted  below  (sometimes  wanting  or  straight  in  culti- 
vated forms).     Callus  of  flowering  glumes  and  the  ra- 
chilla  often  hairy  ;  ovary  hairy  all  over  or  only  at  the 
point ;  caryopsis  fusiform,  deeply  sulcate. 

Species  over  fifty,  in  the  temperate  zones  of  the  Old 
and  a  few  in  the  New  World. 

Sec.  I.  CritJie.  Annuals.  Spikelets  nodding ;  empty 
glumes  many -nerved.  A.  sativa  L.,  cultivated  Oat  (Fig. 
63),  with  the  awns  of  the  persistent  flowering  glumes 
straight  or  none,  has  originated,  perhaps,  from  the 
Avild  Oat  (A.fatua  L.),  which  has  geniculate  awns  and 
deciduous  flowering  glumes ;  or  from  a  similar  species 
of  which  there  are  several  in  Southern  Europe  and 
Western  Asia.  Oats  were  cultivated  in  very  ancient 
times  in  Europe,  and  extend  as  far  as  69°. 5  north  lati- 
tude. It  is  the  principal  grain  of  Norway  and  Sweden, 
where  it  is  used  partly  for  mush,  and  partly  for  griddle- 
cakes  ("  Fladbrode").  Oatmeal  is  used  in  the  same 
way  in  Scotland,  Ireland,  and  on  the  Shetland  and 
Orkney  Islands.  In  the  rest  of  Europe  and  in  North 
America  the  plant  is  cultivated  mainly  as  food  for  horses. 
In  China  there  is  a  naked  oat  (see  below)  which  is  used 
in  medicine  ;  in  Europe  also  water-gruel,  made  with  oat- 


122 


THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 


meal,  is  used  as  a  mildly  stimulating  drink  (hence  the 
officinal  Avence  fructus  excorticatus}.  It  is  also  raised  for 
green  fodder.  There  are  two  principal  races :  Panicled 
oats,  with  expanded,  and  "  Banner  oats"  (A.  orientalis 
Schreb.),  with  contracted,  one-sided  panicles.  Each  of 
these  is  divided  into  the  chaffy  and  naked-fruited  varie- 
ties, and  the  first,  according  to  the  color  of  the  flower- 
ing glumes,  into  white,  yellow,  gray,  brown,  and  black 
oats.  In  the  naked  oats  (A.  mida  L.)  the  rachilla  is  pro- 


Fio.  63.—  Arena  sativa  L.    (After  Nees,  Gen.  Germ.,  I.  48.) 


longed  and  bears  4^6  flowers  which  project  beyond  the 
empty  glumes  ;  the  flowering  glumes  are  thiu-mem- 
branaceous  and  allow  the  fruit  to  fallout.  The  "wild 
oat"  (A.  fatua  L.)  is  often  very  troublesome  as  a  field 
weed  in  crops,  especially  in  Southern  Europe.  The 
"  Hairy  oats"  (A.  strigosa  Schreb.)  and  the  "  Short  oats" 
(A.  brevis  Both.)  are  distinguished  from  A.  sativa  by 
the  pedicellate  lower  flower  and  the  usually  two-awned 
spikelets  ;  in  the  first  the  flowering  glume  is  drawn  out 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND   GENERA.          123 

into  two  fine,  awn-like  points  ;  in  the  latter  into  two 
short,  coarse  teeth  ;  the  fruit  is  also  shorter  and  broader. 
The  culture  of  these  two  varieties  has  been  given  up  in 
most  countries  on  account  of  the  small  profits  derived 
from  them  ;  they  can  be  utilized  advantageously  only  on 
very  light,  sandy  soils.  In  Portugal,  Spain,  the  Shet- 
land and  Orkney  Islands,  and  in  Mechlenburg,  Holstein, 
etc.,  Hairy  oats  (A.  strigosa)  are  here  and  there  culti- 
vated. Both  species  occur  as  weeds,  however,  especially 
among  common  oats. 

Sec.  II.  Avenastrum  (Heiiffelia  Schur.,  Helicotrichum 
Bess.).  Perennials.  Spikelets  upright ;  empty  glumes 
five-nerved.  A.  pubescens,  "  Downy  oats,"  with  downy 
lower  leaves,  is  a  good  fodder-grass.  [Avena  Hookeri 
Scrib.  (A.  versicola  Hook,  non  Yill.)  with  the  habit  of 
A.  pi*atensis  L.  is  common  in  the  Rocky  Mountain  region 
of  the  Northwest.] 

161.  (162)  Amphibromus  Nees.     Spikelets   8-10-flow- 
ered,  loosely  panicled  ;  awns  slender,  geniculate. 

Species  one  (A.  Neesii  Steud.),  in  Australia. 

162.  (163)  Arrhenatherum  Beauv.      Habit   of   Avena, 
Sec.    II ;    but  the   spikelets  are 

somewhat  smaller,  and  the  two 
flowers  in  each  are  different  (as 
to  sex).  The  flowering  glume 
of  the  lower  floret  is  awned 
from  the  base,  while  that  of  the 
upper  is  awned  from  the  point  or 
awuless. 

Species  six,  in  Europe,  North- 

em     Africa,     Western      Asia.       A.    FlG-  ^.-Arrhenatherum  avena- 

ceum  Beauv.    (After  Nees,  Gen. 

avenaceum  Beauv.  (Avena  elatior  Germ.,  1.49.) 
L.)  (Fig.  64)  with  expanded  panicles  and  naked,  shining 
spikelets  is  the  French  "Bay  grass."  It  is  native  in 
Central  and  Southern  Europe,  and  much  cultivated  in 
North  America  ("  Randall  grass,"  "  Evergreen  grass"), 
a  very  good  and  productive  grass  for  chalky  soils. 

163.  (161)  Gaudinia  Beauv.  (Arthrostachya  Link)  (Fig. 
65).     Annuals  with  the  habit  of  Lolium,  and  spikelets  as 


124 


THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 


in  Avena,  many-flowered,  but  singly  sessile  in  notches  of 
the  articulate  rachis  ;  awns  slender. 

Species  two,  one,  G.fragilis  Beauv.,  in  the  regions  of 
the  Mediterranean,  the  other  ( G.  geminiflora  J.  Gay),  on 
the  Azores. 


FIG.  65.  -Gaudiniafragilis  Beauv.    (After 
Nees,  Gen.  Germ.,  I.  84.) 


FIG.  66. — Danthonia  provincialis 
DC.  (After  Nees,  Gen.  Germ., 
I.  50.) 


164.  (164)  Tristachya  Nees  (Monopogon  Presl).     Pani- 
cles loose ;  flowering    glumes  of  the  $  flower  awnless, 
that  of  the  ?  flower  deeply  cleft,  and  with  a  long,  ge- 
niculate  and  twisted  awn. 

Species   eight,  in   tropical  America,   the   others   in 
tropical  Africa  and  Western  Asia. 

165.  (165)  Trichopteryx  Nees  (Loudetia  Hochst.).    Dis- 
tinguished  from    the   preceding   only   by   the    solitary 
spikelets.     Flowering  glume  often  hairy. 

Species  ten,  in  tropical  and  Southern  Africa,  one  of 
them  also  in  Brazil. 

166.  (166)  Anisopogon  Brown.      Panicles  loose,  with 
solitary,  very  large  (4  cm.  exclusive  of  the  awns)  spike- 
lets  ;  flowering  glumes  five-cleft,  four  lateral  points  finely 
awned,  and  the  middle  one  with  a  strong  geniculate  awn. 

Species  one  (A.  avenaceus  Brown),  in  Australia. 

167.  (167)  Danthonia  DC.     Panicles  loose  or  dense  ; 
flowering  glumes  rounded  on  the  back,  7-9  nerved,  fre- 
quently fringed,  two-cleft,  the   points   sometimes  two- 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND   GENERA.         15 

parted  and  ending  in  awns ;  middle  awn  flattened  at  the 
base,  usually  geniculate  and  twisted. 

Species  about  one  hundred,  in  the  warm  and  tem- 
perate zones  of  both  hemispheres,  more  than  half  of  them 
in  South  Africa.  [D.  compressa  Austin,  on  the  moun- 
tains of  North  Carolina  and  Tennessee,  is  valuable  for 
grazing.] 

Sec.  I.  Himantochcete.  The  two  teeth  of  the  flower- 
ing glume  undivided.  D.  provincialis  DC.  (Fig.  66), 
from  South  Europe  to  Vienna.  Crinipes  Hochst.  and 
Streblochcete  Hochst.  are  species  of  this  section. 

Sec.  II.  Pentaschistis.  Teeth  of  the  flowering  glumes 
again  two-toothed  and  often  produced  into  awns.  Pen- 
tameris  Beauv.  and  Chcztobromus  Nees  belong  here. 

TEIBE  X.— CHLORIDES. 

Spikelets  one-  to  many-flowered,  in  two  series  upon  the 
outer  side  of  the  continuous  rachis  of  the  spike  or  raceme  ; 
flowering  glumes  deciduous  with  the  fruit ;  the  usually 
two  empty  glumes  rarely  falling  with  them.  Palea  two- 
nerved  ;  styles  distinct ;  stigmas  projecting  from  the 
sides,  rarely  from  just  below  the  apex,  of  the  spikelets  ; 
grain  free,  unfurrowed  ;  starch-grains  usually  compound, 
rarely  simple. 
A.  Flowers  of  all  the  spikelets  hermaphrodite. 

a.  One  $  flower  (very  rarely  two)  in  each  spikelet. 
a.  No  sterile  glumes  or  $  flowers,  and  only  rarely 
a  short  projection  above  the  £  flower. 
I.  Spikelets    awnless  [sometimes  short-awned 
in  Spartind], 

1°.  Spikelets  falling  off  from  the  rachis  entire. 

17O.  Spartina. 

2°.  Empty  glumes  not  deciduous. 
*  Spike  terminal,  slender. 

168.  Michrochloa. 

**  Spikes  2-6,  digitate.  .  169.  Cynodon. 
***  Spikes  many  along  a  common  axis, 
t  The  axis  slender ;  flowering  glume 
longer  than  the  empty  ones. 

179.  Schedonnardus. 


126  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

ft  The  axis  bordered  by  a  narrow 
membrane ;  flowering  glumes 
many  times  shorter  than  the 
empty  ones. 

180.  Craspedorhachis. 
II.  Spikelets  distinctly  awned. 

1°.  Spikes  terminal,  one  to  four  in  number. 
171.  Schoenefeldia. 

2°.  Spikes  numerous,  approximate  at  the  end 
of  the  culm 178.  Monochsete. 

NOTE. — Compare  Nardus  with  one  spike,  one 
pistil,  one  indistinct  empty  glume. 

ft.  One  to   several   empty   glumes   above    the  $ 

flower ;  these  are  often  small  or  awn-like,  rarely 

with  a  $  flower  in  their  axils. 

I.  Empty  glumes  four,  the  two  upper  often 

having  a  palea  in  the  axil  but  bearing  no 

flower 173.  Ctenium. 

II.  Empty  glumes  two. 

1°.  Spike  one,  terminal. 

*  Spikelets  awnless.    172.  Harpechloa. 
**  Spikelets  awned.    174.  Enteropogon. 

2°.  Spikes  two  to  many  (occasionally  re- 
sembling short  fascicles). 

*  Spikes  in  false  whorls  or  at  least 
closely  approximate. 

t  Flowering  glume  of  the  £  flower 
with  one  awn,  or  awnless. 

175.  Chloris. 

ft  Flowering    glume    of    V    flower 
with  three  awns.    176.  Trichloris. 
**  Spikes   remote   or  the  lowest  only 
approximate, 
t  Spikelets  scattered  or  remote. 

177.  Gymnopogon. 
ft  Spikelets  crowded. 

O  Flowering  glume    plumose- 
ciliate.  182.  Melanocenchris. 
O  O  Flowering  glume   not   plu- 
mose.  .     .     181.  Bouteloua. 
NOTE.— Compare  the  one-flowered  Leptochloa  species. 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA.         127 

b.  Each  spikelet  with  2-3  $  flowers. 

oc.  Spikes   terminal,  solitary  or  2-3  approximate 
and  upright ;  spikelets  awned. 

I.  Flowering  glumes  with  three  awns,  the 
middle  one  from  below  the  entire  point, 
the  lateral  ones  (often  short)  beginning 

lower  down 183.  Tripogon. 

II.  Flowering  glumes  with  one  awn  below  the 
entire  point.    ...       184.  Lepidopironia. 
III.  Flowering  glumes  with  one  awn  below  the 
two  obtuse  lobes  of  the  point. 

185.  Tetrapogon. 

IV.  Flowering  glume  deeply  three-cleft;  lat- 
eral divisions  pointed,  the  middle  one 
prolonged  into  a  strong  awn. 

186.  Astrebla. 

/?.  Spikes  1-3,  short,  terminal,  not  digitate,  spike- 
lets  awnless 192.  Ccelachyrum. 

y.  Spikes    numerous,    along   a   common   axis    or 
digitate  at  its  apex  ;  spikelets  awnless. 
I.  Spikelets  deciduous  as  a  whole. 

1°.  Empty  glumes  four.    .     187.  Tetrachne. 
2°.  Empty  glumes  two.      189.  Beckmannia. 

NOTE. — Compare  Leptochloa  Mpinnata  Hochst. 

II.  Empty  glumes    two,   persistent,  flowering 
glumes  deciduous. 

*  Empty  glumes   with    a   subulate   awn, 

projecting  beyond  the  flowering  glumes. 

188.  Dinebra. 

**  Empty  glumes  awnless  or  mucronate 
pointed,  shorter  than  the  flowering 
glume. 

t  Spikelets    densely   crowded,    spikes 
usually  digitate. 

O  Spikes  with  terminal  spikelets. 
190.  Eleusine. 

O  O  Spikes  without  terminal  spike- 
lets  ;  the  rachis  drawn  out  to  a 
point  and  projecting  beyond 
them.  .  191.  Dactyloctenium. 


128 


THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 


ft  Spikelets      distinctly      alternating ; 
spikes  remote.       .     193.  Leptochloa. 

NOTE. — Compare  Wangenfieimia,  Festuca,  also 
Trichloris  with  three  awns. 

B.  Plant.s  dioecious,  rarely  monoecious,  the  two  sexes  very 
unlike. 

a.  9  inflorescence  capitate,  $  spikelets  2-3-flowered. 

194.  Buchloe. 

b.  ?  inflorescence  a  loose,  one-sided  spike,  $  spike- 
lets  one-flowered 195.  Opizia. 

168.  (168)  Microchloa  Brown.  Low,  csespitose,  delicate- 
leaved  grasses,  with  long,  frequently  curved  spikes. 

Species  three,  two  African,  the  third  (M.  setacea)  dis- 
tributed throughout  tropical  zone. 

169.  (170)  Cynodon   Pers.   (Capriola  Adans.,   Fibichia 
Kol.,  Dactylon  Vill.  (in  part)).     Spikelets  small ;  flower- 
ing glumes  usually  longer 
and  broader  than  the  nar- 
row empty  ones,  ciliate  on 
the   keel ;    spikes   slender, 
radially  divergent. 

Species  four,  three  in 
Australia,  the  fourth  (C. 
Dactylon  Pers.  (Fig.  67) 
"  Dog's  tooth,"  with  long 
creeping  runners  and  3-5 
digitate  spikes)  cosmopoli- 
tan. This  species  covers 
the  ground  extensively  in 
sandy  soils,  and  although  it 
has  delicate  leaves,  it  with- 
stands protracted  drouths. 
In  the  S.  States  ("Ber- 
muda grass"),  it  is  the 

FIG.  67.-Cynodon  Dactylon  Pers.    (After  most    important    graSS    for 

pasturage,  and,  as  in  Hin- 

dostan,  it  is  prized  for  fodder,  both  for  horses  and 
cows.  The  Hindoos  consider  it  sacred.  In  Bengal  it 
is  called  "  Durba,"  in  N.  India  "  Dub,"  and  in  the  Deccau 
"  Hariali."  In  Europe  it  has  been  little  appreciated. 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA.         129 

Its  rhizome  (Rh.  Graminis  ItdLici)  is  used  in  medicine 
like  that  of  the  Paspalum  distichum  (see  p.  73). 

170.  (19)  Spartina  Schreb.  (Trachynotia  Michx.,  Lim- 
netis  Pers.,  Solenachne  Steud.).     Spikes  two  to  several, 
usually  upright,  approximate,  rarely  remote ;  spikelets 
large,  compressed ;  empty  glumes  unequal ;  as  long  or 
nearly  as  long  as  the  flowering  glume  ;  embryo  nearly  as 
long  as  the  fruit. 

Species  seven.  Maritime  grasses,  three  of  which  are 
common  to  the  Atlantic  coast  and  to  the  Mediterranean 
shores  (Sp.  stricta  Both) ;  two  in  the  Western  prairies, 
one  in  Montevideo,  one  upon  Tristan  da  Cunha,  Amster- 
dam, St.  Paul.  Coarse  grasses,  of  not  much  value  as 
fodder. 

171.  (169)  Schoenefeldia    Kunth.     Spikes    2-4,    long. 
Spikelets  densely  crowded,  sub-pectinate.     Striking  in 
appearance  on  account  of  the  very  long  slender  awns 
which  impart  to  the  spikes  an  elegant  crinate  aspect. 

Species  three,  tropical  Africa ;  one  East  Indian. 

172.  (171)  Harpechloa    Kunth.       Spikelets    crowded, 
pectinate ;  flowering  glumes  of    £    flower   broad,   com- 
pressed, obtuse,  long-fringed  ;    above  the  9  flower  are 
1-3  small  glumes  that  are  either  empty  or  with  $  flow- 
ers ;  spikes  dense,  often  falcate. 

Species  two  (H.  capensis  Kunth),  in  South  Africa. 

173.  (172)  Ctenium  Panzer  (Campidosus  Desv.,  Mono- 
cera  Ell.)   (Fig.    68).     Spike    one,    rarely   2-3,    usually 
curved  ;  spikelets  densely  imbricated,  pectinate  ;  second 
empty  glume  awned  on  the  back  ;  awn  stout,  divergent ; 
flowering    glume    of    $  flower  with  a  very  slender  awn 
below  the  point ;  one  to  two  empty  or  $  bracts  above 
the  flowering  glume. 

Species  seven,  four  in  South  and  North  America, 
three  in  Africa  and  the  Mascarene  Isles. 

174.  (173)  Enteropogon    Nees.      Spikes     long,    often 
curved  ;  spikelets  imbricated ;  flowering  glume  of  the  $ 
flower  with  a  slender  awn  below  the  point ;  1-2  empty 
or  $  bracts  above. 

Species  four,  in  East  India,  tropical  Africa  or  the 
Mascarene  and  Seychelles  Islands. 


130 


THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 


175.  (174)  Chloris  Sw.  (Fig.  69).     Empty  glumes  nar- 
row, very  acute ;  flowering  glumes  broader,  usually  two- 


Fio.  68.-Cteniwn  Americanum 
Schrank.  (After  A.  Gray, 
Man.  pi.  9.) 


FIG.  69.— Chloris  barbata  Sw. 
O,  Sterile  glume.  (After 
Trin.,  Spec.  Gram.  pi.  306.) 


cleft,  frequently  ciliate ;  one  to  several  empty  glumes 
above,  which  are  usually  broadly  truncate  and  often 
awned. 

Species  about  forty,  in  all  warm  countries,  except 
Europe.  Elegant  grasses,  some  of  which  (Ch.  gradlis 
Dur.  for  example)  are  cultivated  as  ornamental  plants. 
The  species  with  awnless  flowering  glumes  compose  the 
section  Eustachys  Desv.  (as  a  genus),  Schultesia  Spreng. 

176.  (176)  Trichloris  Fournier.  Spikes  erect,  rather 
slender,  approximate,  or  in  elongated  panicles,  clothed 
with  the  numerous  delicate  awns.  Spikelets  sometimes 
2-3-flowered ;  sterile  bracts  reduced  to  awns. 

Species  two,  in  Mexico,  Texas,  Arizona ;  two  in  Chili 
and  one  in  Argentine  Republic.  That  in  the  latter 
country  (Tr.Blanchardiana  Hack.)  is  as  yet  undescribed, 
but  has  long  been  known  to  gardeners  as  CJdoropsis  or 
Chloridopsis  Blanckardiana,  and  is  prized  as  an  ornamental 
grass  ;  the  one  in  Arizona  is  perhaps  identical  with  it. 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA. 


131 


177.  (177)    Gynmopogon    Beauv.    (Anthopogon    Nutt, 
Dichcetaria  Nees).     Flowering   glume   a   little    broader 
than  the  empty  glumes,  awned  below  the  two-cleft  apex ; 
sterile  glumes  often  reduced  to  awns  ;  spikes  delicate,  at 
first  erect,  finally  divaricate-spreading  or  reflexed. 

Species  six,  all,  except  one  in  Ceylon,  American. 
Leaves  short,  rather  broad  and  rigid. 

178.  (178)  Monochsete  Doll.     Like  the  preceding,  but 
the  rachilla  is  not  produced  beyond  the  flowers ;  spikes 
many,  densely  flowered. 

Species  one  ( M.  fastigiata  Doll.),  in  Brazil. 

179.  (179)  Schedonnardus  Steud.     Spikes  loosely  flow- 
ered,   remote    on   a    common   ra- 

chis,  spreading ;  flowering  glume 
finally  indurated,  linear,  acuminate- 
pointed. 

Species     one     (Sch.     Texa,nus 
Steud.),  in  N.  America. 

180.  (180)  Craspedorhachis  Benth. 
Like  the  preceding,  but  the  flower- 
ing glume  and  palea  are  very  deli- 
cate, and  so  small  as  to  appear  like 
minute  scales. 

Species      one      (C.      Africana 
Benth.),  in  tropical  Africa. 

181.  (181)    Bouteloua     Lagasca 
(Eutriana  Trin.,  ActinocMoa  Willd.) 

(Fig.   70).     Spikes   very  variable,  FIG.  m.-Bouteioua  racemosa 

5  '  r    .      .  •'  Lag:.      (After  Asa  Gray,  Man. 

sometimes  consisting  of  many  and  P1- 9-) 
sometimes  of  1-3  spikelets ;  in  the  latter  case  they  re- 
semble solitary  spikelets,  but  are  distinguished  by  the 
prolongation  of  the  axis  beyond  the  spikelets  ;  flowering 
glumes  with  3-5  teeth,  of  which  1-3  bear  awns  or  mucros ; 
upper  sterile  glumes  usually  reduced  to  awns. 

Species  about  thirty,  especially  abundant  upon  the 
plateaux  of  the  southwestern  United  States,  where  they 
form  a  large  part  of  the  prairie-grass  ("Mesquite"  or 
"Grama  grass")  and  furnish  excellent  grazing  for  stock. 

Sec.  I.  Chondrosium  Desv.  (as  a  genus).  Spikelets 
pectinate,  numerous  in  each  of  the  more  or  less  falcate 


132  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

spikes;  upper  sterile  glumes  usually  three-awned. — B. 
hirsuta  Lag.,  Illinois  to  Mexico. 

Sec.  II.  Atheropogon  Muhlenb.  (as  a  genus)  (Heteros- 
tega  Desv.).  Spikelets  few  (less  than  twelve)  in  many 
short  spikes ;  upper  sterile  glumes  variable  (see  Fig.  70). 
— B.  racemosa  Lag.,  New  York  to  Peru. 

Sec.  III.  Triathera  Desv.  (as  a  genus)  (Aristidium 
Endl.,  Tricena  Kunth).  Spikelets  either  single  or  in  twos 
or  threes  in  each  of  the  numerous  spikes ;  upper  sterile 
glume  three-awned. — B.  aristidoides  Griseb.,  in  Mexico, 
California,  etc. 

Sec.  IV.  Polyodon  Kunth  (as  a  genus)  Triplathera 
Endl.).  Like  Sec.  Ill,  but  with  2-3  sterile  bracts  above 
the  $  flower ;  sterile  bract  with  3-5  awns  united  in  a 
fascicle. — B.  multiseta  Benth.  in  S.  America. — B.  Texana 
Wats,  in  Texas. 

182.  (182)  Melanocenchris  Nees  (Ptiloneilema  Steud.). 
Spikes  very  short,  sub-globose,  very  remote,  finally  de- 
ciduous.    Low  annuals. 

Species  three,  in  Hindostan  and  tropical  Africa. 

183.  (183)  Tripogon  Koth.  (Plagiolytrum  Nees).    Spikes 
terminal,  elongated,  solitary ;  spikelets  sub-imbricated, 
many-flowered,  the   1-2   upper   flowers   smaller,   $ ,   or 
sterile.      Small,    csespitose    grasses    with   very   narrow 
leaves. 

Species  eight,  in  East  India  and  tropical  Africa. 

184.  (184)  Lepidopironia  Kichard.     May  belong  to  the 
preceding ;  it  differs  only  in  the  uni-aristate  flowering 
glume,  which  is  covered  with  long  wooll}7  hairs. 

Species  one,  in  Abyssinia. 

185.  (185)    Tetrapogon    Desf.  (Cryptochloris    Benth.). 
Spikes  solitary  or  in  twos  or  threes,  usually  clothed  with 
silky  hairs  ;  spikelets  crowded,  2-3-flowered,  broad. 

Species  five,  four  in  North  Africa,  Abyssinia,  and 
Western  Asia.  One  (  Cryptochloris)  of  doubtful  origin  (in 
Patagonia?). 

186.  (186)  Astrebla  F.  Mull.     Spikes   terminal,  soli- 
tary or  in  pairs  ;  spikelets  large,  thickened  ;  empty  glumes 
and  flowering  glumes  many-nerved,  the  latter  clothed 
with  silky  hairs. 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND   GENERA. 


133 


Species  two  or  three.  A.  pectinata  and  A.  triticoides 
F.  Hull,  in  Australia. 

187.  (189)    Tetrachne   Nees.       Spikes    remote,  with 
densely  crowded  spikelets ;  leaves  terete,  convolute. 

Species  one  (T.  Dregei  Nees),  in  South  Africa. 

188.  (188)   Dinebra  Jacq.      Spikes  short,  numerous, 
scattered  along  a  common  axis,  finally  reflexed. 

Species  one  (D.  Arabic®,  Jacq.),  a  low  annual  in 
Northern  and  tropical  Africa  to  Hindostan. 

189.  (6)  Beckmannia   Host.       Spikelets    broad,   com- 
pressed, crowded,  two-flowered.      Empty  glumes  navicu- 
lar,  inflated  on  the  back ;    flowering  glumes  narrower, 
keeled,  pointed,  but  awnless. 

Species  one  (B,  erucceformis  Host.).  Eastern  and 
Southern  Europe,  temperate  portions  of  Asia  and  North 
America.  [Specimens  from  America  have  one-flowered 
spikelets.] 


Fio.  71.— A,   Eleusine   Coracana  Gartn.     (After  Schreber,  Bschr.  pi.   35.)    B,  S, 
Spikelets  of  E.  Indica  Gartn.    (After  A.  Gray,  Man.  pi.  9.)    K,  Utricle.    S.  seed. 

190.  (191)  Eleusine  Gartn.  Spikes  digitate  or  rarely 
scattered ;  spikelets  many-flowered,  crowded ;  glumes 
closely  imbricate,  diverging,  compressed  and  keeled, 
obtuse  or  mucronate-pointed  ;  pericarp  very  delicate. 

Species  six,  mostly  in  the  tropical  and  sub-tropical 


134  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

zone  of  the  Old  World ;  one  (E.  Indica  Gartn.)  is  a  weed  in 
all  warmer  countries.  E.  Coracana  Gartn.  ("Korakan" 
or  "  Dagussa ;"  "  Mandua"  in  N.  India,  "  Marua"  in 
Bengal,  "Ragi"  in  S.  India)  has  thick  spikes,  and  a 
seed  which  is  marked  with  very  fine  comb-like  lines.  It 
is  probably  derived  from  E.  Indica  (see  above),  whose  ob- 
long seeds  are  marked  with  more  distinct  comb-like  lines, 
and  whose  spikes  are  more  slender.  "  Korakan"  is 
cultivated  in  E.  India,  Sunda  Islands,  S.  China,  Japan, 
and  especially  through  the  whole  of  Africa.  In  mam- 
parts  of  Africa  it  forms  the  principal  food  in  spite  of  the 
bitter  taste  of  the  flour.  A  kind  of  bread  or  unleavened 
cake  is  made  from  it.  In  Abyssinia  and  Niam  Niam  a 
tolerably  good  beer  is  brewed  from  it.  In  India  it  is 
much  prized,  as  it  yields  good  harvests  from  very  poor 
soil. 

191.  (191)    Dactyloctenium    Willd.      Empty   glumes 
strongly  mucronate-pointed.     The  pericarp  is  absorbed 
before  the  fruit  is  ripe. 

Species  one  (D.  jffgyptiacum  Willd.,  with  several  varie- 
ties), which  occurs  as  a  weed  throughout  all  warm  coun- 
tries. A  decoction  is  prepared  from  the  seeds,  which  is 
used  in  Africa  for  inflammation  of  the  kidneys. 

192.  (230  §)  Coelachyrum  Nees.     Small,  annual  plants, 
with  short  spikes  and  no  prolongation  of  the  axis ;  fruit 
a  utricle  whose  pericarp  is  easily  loosened  at  an  early 
period,  leaving  the  shield-shaped  seed  marked  with  prom- 
inent radial  lines. 

Species  two,  C.  brevifolium  Nees  in  Arabia  and  C. 
Indicum  Hack.  (Eragrostis  brevifolia  Benth.)  in  India. 

193.  (192)  Leptochloa   Beauv.   (Oxydenia  Nutt.,  Rab- 
docMoa    Beauv.).      Inflorescence    a    panicle    formed   of 
numerous  slender  spikes  ;  spikelets  small,  two-oo  -flow- 
ered, rarely  one-flowered,  compressed  ;  glumes  and  palea 
keeled ;  flowering  glume  obtuse  or  acute,  rarely  awned. 

Species  twelve,  in  the  warmer  countries  of  both  hemi- 
spheres. One,  L.  mucronata  Kunth,  in  temperate  North 
America. 

194.  (193)  Buchloe  Engelm.  (Bidbilis  Eafinesque).    Male 
plant  with  2-4  short  unilateral  spikes,  spikelets  obtuse, 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA.          135 

2-3-flowered ;  inflorescence  of  the  ?  plant  capitate,  ses- 
sile (recalling  Cenchrus],  scarcely  exserted  from  the 
sheath  of  the  subtending  leaf ;  empty  glumes  two,  con- 
cave, indurated,  three-lobed. 

Species  one  (B.  dactyloides  Engelm.),  the  renowned 
"Buffalo  grass"  of  the  North  American  prairies.  In 
Texas  it  remains  green  over  winter,  and  if  it  completely 
dries  up  during  the  summer  drouth  it  is  still  readily  eaten 
by  cattle,  and  a  few  hours'  rain  is  sufficient  to  make  it 
green  again. 

195.  (195)  Opizia  Presl.  $  spikelets  in  several  alter- 
nating, slender  spikes ;  second  empty  glume  of  the  ? 
spikelet  with  three  long  awns  surrounding  the  rest  of 
the  spikelet  like  an  involucre ;  flowering  glumes  two- 
lobed,  sterile  bracts  long-awned. 

Species  one  (0.  stolonifera  Presl),  in  Mexico. 

TRIBE  XL — FESTTJCEJE. 

Inflorescence  in  panicles  or  racemes  (apparently 
spikes  on  account  of  the  very  short  pedicels  of  the 
spikelets)  ;  spikelets  2-oo  -flowered,  rarely  one-flowered, 
usually  $  ;  empty  glumes  usually  shorter  than  the  near- 
est flowering  glume ;  flowering  glumes  awnless  or  with 
from  one  to  many  awns  which  are  usually  terminal,  rarely 
dorsal,  and  straight  (very  rarely  geniculate) ;  palese  two- 
keeled  ;  embryo  usually  small ;  starch-grains  usually 
compound.  The  most  important  meadow-grasses  of  the 
temperate  zones,  as  well  as  the  predominating  grasses  of 
high  mountains  in  the  tropics. 
A..  Flowering  glumes  divided  into  three-to-many  awn-like 

lobes,  or  with  the  awns  rising  from  between  the  lobes,  or 

dorsal. 

a.  Flowering  glumes  cleft  above  into  9-23  awn-like 
divisions 196.  Pappophorum. 

b.  Flowering   glumes  with   9-11  irregular,  membra-- 
naceous,  awned  lobes 197.  Cottea. 

c.  Flowering  glumes  with  5-9  dorsal  awns. 

269.  Boissiera. 

d.  Flowering  glumes  with  four  membranaceous  lobes, 
between  and  at  the  sides  of  which  arise  five  awns. 

198.  Schmidtia. 


136  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

e.  Flowering  glumes  with  five  sharp,  subulate  divi- 
sions, which  are  bent  backwards.     Spikelets  two- 
flowered  ;  inflorescence  capitate.  .    206.  Echinaria. 

f.  Flowering   glumes  with    3-5  lanceolate,   pointed, 
rigid,  and  erect  or  straight  lobes.     Spikelets  many- 
flowered,  in  racemes 207.  Orcuttia. 

g.  Flowering  glumes  with  five  delicate  awns. 

210.  Sesleria,  Sec.  Psilathera. 

h.  Flowering  glumes  five-cleft,  divisions  awl-shaped, 
the  middle  and  two  outer  ones  awned. 

199.  Calamochloa. 
NOTE. — Compare  Triraphis. 

i.  Flowering  glumes  deeply  3-4-cleft-with  a  dorsal 

awn 201.  Pommoreulla. 

k.  Flowering  glumes  deeply  four-cleft,  usually  awned 

between  the  hyaline  divisions.   200.  Cathestechum. 
1.  Flowering  glumes  of  the  fertile  flower  three-cleft, 

three-awned. 

a.  Plant  dioacious,  the  two  sexes  very  unlike. 

202.  Scleropogon. 

ft.  Plant  hermaphrodite.      .     .     .     203.  Triraphis. 
B.  Floivering  glumes  entire  or  two-toothed  to  two-deft,  awn- 
less  or  ivith  one  awn  (3-5-atvned  only  in  a  variety  of 
Bromus  macrostachys). 

a.  Rachilla  or  flowering  glume  (at  least  of  the  fertile 
flower)  with  long  hairs  which  envelop  the  latter. 
Tall,  reed-like  grasses. 

a.  Plant   dioecious,  $  spikelets    hairy,  $  spikelets 

naked 214.  Gynerium. 

ft.  Plant  hermaphrodite  (very  rarely  dioacious),  all 
the  spikelets  hairy. 

I.  Flowering    glumes     thick-membranaceous, 
five-nerved.     .     .     .        215.  Ampelodesmos. 
II.  Flowering  glumes  thin-membranaceous  or 
hyaline,  three-nerved. 

1°.  Flowering  glumes  hairy,  rachilla  naked. 

216.  Arundo. 
2°.  Hairs  on  the  rachilla  only. 

217.  Phragmites. 

b.  Rachilla   and   flowering    glume   naked   or   hairy; 
hairs  much  shorter  than  the  glumes. 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA.          137 

a.    Stigmas  with  short  hairlets  on  all  sides  (bar- 
bellate),  projecting  from  the  point  of  the  flow- 
ering glumes,  upon  elongated,  free  styles. 
I.  Spikelets  dioecious,  solitary,  terminal,  con- 
cealed between  the  leaves. 

204.  Monanthochloe. 

II.  Spikelets  usually  in  threes,  terminal  in  the 
axils  of  stiff,  spinescent  leaves  which  pro- 
ject far  beyond  them.  .  .  205.  Munroa. 

III.  Spikelets  in  a   capitate  panicle  which  is 
enclosed  within  the  sheath  of  a  bract-like 
leaf  and  falls  off  with  it.    2O9.  Urochlsena. 

IV.  Spikelets  in  a  capitate  or  short  cylindri- 
cal panicle  which  is  neither  surrounded  by 
a  leaf    nor  deciduous ;  the  spikelets  also 
(at  least  their  empty  glumes)  persistent. 
1°.  Lowest    spikelet    with   bracts  at  the 

base. 

*  Empty   glumes  winged    upon   the 

keel ;  spikelets  very  many-flowered. 

208.  Ammochloa. 

**  Empty  glumes  not  winged,  spike- 
lets  2-6-flowered.    .     21O.  Sesleria. 
2°.  Lowest  spikelet  without  bracts  at  the 

base .      211.  Oreochloa. 

V.  Spikelets  in  contracted,  spike-like  pani- 
cles, articulated  below  the  empty  glumes 
and  falling  off  one  by  one. 

212.  Fingerhuthia. 
YI.  Spikelets  minute  in  compact,  very  long, 

lobed  panicles  whose  ultimate  branches 
are  subtended  by  subulate  bracts ;  spike- 
lets  minute,  not  deciduous. 

213.  Elytrophorus. 
NOTE.— Compare  Streptogyne,  Zeugites,  Schismus. 

/?.  Stigmas  plumose,  relatively  short,  sessile  or 
raised  on  a  short  style,  emerging  from  the  sides 
of  the  flowering  glume. 

I.  Spikelets  of  two  forms,  the  fertile  1-3-flow- 
ered,  surrounded  by  the  sterile  consisting 
of  many  glumes. 


138  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

1°.  Fertile  spikelets  one-flowered,  sterile 
spikelet  with  obtuse  glumes. 

254.  Lamarckia. 

2°.  Fertile    spikelets    2-3-flowered,   sterile 
spikelet  with  awned  or  pointed  glumes. 
253.  Cynosurus. 
II.  Spikelets  all  alike. 

1°.  Flowering  glumes  thiee-toothed,  three- 
pointed  or  two-toothed,  usually  three- 
nerved;  lateral  nerves  and  the  callus 
usually  hairy. 

*  Spikelets    with    only    one     fertile 
flower,  four  empty  glumes  and  one 
upper,  empty,   three-awned    rudi- 
ment. .     .     .    218.  Blepharidachne. 

**  Spikelets  witli  three  to  many  fertile 
flowers ;  empty  glumes  two. 

219.  Triodia. 

***  Spikelets  1-3-flowered ;  flowering 
glumes  keeled ;  branches  of  the 
diffuse  panicle  very  long  and  capil- 
lary  219a.  Redfieldia. 

NOTE. — Compare  IMplachne  with  its  sharp- 
keeled  flowering  glumes. 

2°.  Flowering  glumes  of  some  other  struc- 
ture. 

*  Flowering  glumes   1-3-nerved,   all 
with  $  flowers,   or   the  uppermost 
only  with  a  $  flower,  or  empty. 

t  Panicle-branches     spirally    ar- 
ranged. 

O  Panicle-branches  in  spike- 
like  racemes  either  with 
short-pedicelled  or  sessile 
spikelets. 

<3   Flowering  glumes  keeled. 
22O.  Diplachne. 
3  <   Flowering  glumes  round- 
ed on  the  back. 

224.  Ipnum. 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA.  139 

O  O  Branches  of  the  panicle  again 
with  branchlets,  these  be- 
coming shorter  above. 

<  Spikelets     loosely     2-4- 
flowered,  conical;  rachilla 
articulated.  222.  Molinia. 

<  <  Spikelets  densely  many- 
flowered  ;  rachilla  usually 
continuous:  if  articulated, 
the  spikelet  not  conical. 

223.  Eragrostis. 

ft  Primary  panicle-branches  dis- 
tichous, usually  branched  again 
at  the  base. 

O  Empty  glumes  much  longer 
than  the  flowering  glumes. 

221.  Dissanthelium. 
O  O  Empty  glumes  not  at  all  or 
only  a  little  longer  than  the 
flowering  glumes. 

<  Panicle  spike-like  or  very 
much  contracted,  usually 
dense. 

X  Second    empty   glume 
much     broader      and 
somewhat  longer  than 
the  flowering  glumes. 
D   Flowering    glumes 
broadly    obtuse, 
awnless. 

225.  Eatonia. 
D  D   Flowering    glumes 
awned. 

226.  Avellinia. 

XX  Second  empty  glumes 

not  broader  nor  longer 

than      the      flowering 

glumes.     227.  Kceleria. 

<J  <   Panicle  diffuse,  with  long 

slender  branches. 


140  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 


Empty  glumes  slightly 
unequal. 

228.  Catabrosa. 
XX  Empty     glumes     very 
unequal,  lower  almost 
wanting. 

229.  Sphenopus. 

<]  <  <  Panicles  with  very  short 
but  spreading  and  some- 
what stout  branches. 
Glumes  indurated. 

23O.  Cutandia. 

**  Flowering    glumes    3-5-  to  many- 
nerved,  with  two  or  more   of   the 
upper    glumes    empty ;    appressed 
and  frequently  enclosing  or  envel- 
oping each  other, 
t  The  sterile  upper  glumes  form- 
ing together  at  their  tips  a  tuft 
of  awns. 
O  Leaves  narrow-linear. 

231.  Ectrosia. 
O  O  Leaves  broad-lanceolate. 

240.  Lophatherum. 
ft  Sterile  glumes  not  awned. 

O  Flowering  glumes  flabelli- 
form,  white-membraiiaceous, 
and  corolla-like. 

234.  Anthochloa. 

O  O  Flowering  glumes   of    some 
other  form. 

<  Spikelets  laterally  com- 
pressed ;  glumes  sharply 
keeled. 

X  Empty  glumes  persist- 
ent; flowering  glumes 
5-nerved. 

233.  Heterachne. 

XX  Spikelets  deciduous  as 

a      whole ;      flowering 

glumes  three-nerved. 

232.  Harpachne. 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA.          141 

<]  <]   Spikelets   not   at    all    or 
only  slightly  compressed  ; 
glumes  not  keeled. 
X  Stamens    three ;    lodi- 
cule  one  ;  upper  sterile 
glumes    usually    club- 
shaped.    .    235.  Melica. 
XX  Stamens      1-2;     lodi- 
cules       two ;        sterile 
glumes        not       club- 
shaped.  236.  Diarrhena. 

NOTE. — Compare  Streptogyne. 

***  Flowering  glumes    five-  to   many- 
nerved  ;  each  containing  a  S  flower, 
or  the  upper  with  only  a  $  flower 
or    empty   (very    rarely  in    many 
Festuca  and  Bromus  species  there 
are    several   empty  glumes  above 
the  fertile;    in  Zeugites    there  are 
several  $  flowers  and  only  one  £ ). 
t  Leaves     broad,    lanceolate     or 
ovate,  with  fine  transverse  veins 
between  the  longitudinal  nerves. 
O  Spikelets    one-,  rarely  two- 
flowered. 

<]  Spikelets  in  a  long  uni- 
lateral raceme ;  stigmas 
very  long  and  spiral. 

242.  Streptogyne. 

<  <   Spikelets  in  several  short 

spikes  which  are  united 

in  pairs  along  the  axis  of 

a  panicle. 

241.  Poecilostachys. 
<  <]  <]    Spikelets  paniculate. 

239.  Orthoclada. 
O  O   Spikelets  many-flowered. 
<   All  the  flowers  $ . 

237.  Cenototheca. 


142  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

<  <   Only  the  lowest  flower  £ , 

the  others  $  ,  remote. 

238.  Zeugites. 

ft  Leaves  linear  or  lanceolate,  no 
distinct  transverse  veins. 
O  Keel  of  the  palea  winged  or 
with  a  linear  appendage. 

243.  Pleuropogon. 
OO  Keel  of  the   palea  not   ap- 
pendaged. 

<  Empty  glumes  3-6  at  the 
base  of  each  spikelet. 
X  Spikelets  one-flowered. 
244.  Brylkinia. 
XX  Spikelets      many-flow- 
ered. .     .    245.  Uniola. 

<  <   Empty  glumes  two. 

X  Plants  strictly  dio3- 
cious ;  spikelets  almost 
sessile.  246.  Distichlis. 
XX  Plants  hermaphrodite 
(very  rarely  dioecious, 
and  then  loosely  pani- 
culate). 

D   Flowering     glumes 

cordate  at  the  base. 

247.  Briza. 

D  D   Flowering     glumes 

not  cordate   at  the 

base.  .     .     AA,  etc. 

AA.  Spikelets  dosdy  imbricate,  arranged  in  a  linear,  dense, 


aa.  Flowering  glumes  lanceolate,  indistinctly  five- 
nerved 249.  Wangenheimia. 

bb.  Flowering     glumes     broadly    ovate-lanceolate, 
seven-nerved  with  glandular  hairs  at  the  base. 

248.  Desmazeria. 

NOTE.— Compare  Festuca  and  Brachypodium,  whose  spike- 
lets  stand  farther  apart  and  whose  glumes  are  not  keeled. 

BB.  Spikelets  densely  imbricate,  croivded  in  short  spikes, 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA.          143 


of  which  are  united  into  a  raceme  or  form  a 

capitate  inflorescence 250.  JEluropus. 

CO.  Spikelets   in  small  fascicles  which  are  united  into  a 
glomerate  or  interrupted  panicle. 

aa.  Panicles  one-sided 252.  Dactylis. 

bb.  Panicles  symmetrical.    .     .     .     251.  Lasiochloa. 
DD.  Spikelets  in  panicles  or  racemes,  neither  imbricated  nor 
in  fascicles. 

aa.  Branches  of   the  panicles  in  at  least  twelve- 
rayed   false   whorls,  the    lowest   of    which    is 

sterile 257.  Nephelochloa. 

NOTE. — Compare  Poa,  Sec.  A. 
bb.  Branches  of  the  panicles  in  whorls  of  1-5. 

aa.  Stigmas  two,  inserted  at  or  near  the  apex 
of  the  ovary  ;  empty  glumes  awnless. 
*  Empty  glumes  longer  than  all  the  flow- 
ering glumes, 
t  Flowering  glumes  two-cleft  or  two- 

lobed 256.  Schismus. 

ft  Flowering  glumes  entire,   or  finely 

toothed 260.  Dupontia. 

**  Flowering  glumes,  at  least  of  the  upper- 
most flowers,  projecting  from  the  empty 
glumes. 

t  Lateral  nerves  of  the  floral  glumes 
nearly  parallel,  not  converging. 
O  Empty  glumes  but  little  or  not 
at  all  shorter  than  the  nearest 
flowering  glumes. 
<3   Flowering   glumes  with   two 
very    short,   nearly  obsolete, 
nerves  on  each  side. 

259.  Colpodium. 

O  O  Flowering  glumes  with  3-4 
nerves  on  each  side,  at  least 
one  of  which  is  prolonged  be- 
yond the  point. 

261.  Seolochloa. 

<I  <   Empty    glumes     much     shorter 
than  the  nearest  flowering  glume. 


144  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

<]   Styles       distinct,      lodicules 
grown  together. 

263.  Glyceria. 

<  <d   Styles    none,   lodicules    dis- 

tinct.      .     .     .     264.  Atropis. 
ft  Lateral    nerves    of     the     flowering 
glumes    arched,    converging    above 
toward  the  mid-vein. 
O  Rachilla  with    a    fringe    of    stiff 
hairs.   .     .     262.  Graphephorum. 
O  O   Rachilla  naked,  downy,  or  with 
flexuose  (or  webby)  hairs. 
<]   Flowering    glumes     strongly 
keeled   on   the   back ;    hilurn 
punctiform. 

X  Flowering  glumes  cartilag- 
inous at  the  base,  upper 
half  herbaceous. 

255.  Sclerochloa. 

XX  Flowering     glumes     mem- 

branaceous  or  herbaceous 

at  the  base.  .     .     258.  Poa. 

<  <   Flowering  glumes  rounded  on 

the  back,  at  least  below. 
X  Palea   rough    or   minutely 
fringed  upon  the  keels. 
D    Hilum  linear. 

265.  Festuca. 
D    Hilum  punctiform. 
§  Spikelets  in  a  simple 
or  branched  raceme. 

266.  Catapodium. 
§§  Spikelets  in  a  short- 
branched  panicle. 

267.  Scleropoa. 

XX  Palea    pectinately   fringed 
on  the  keels. 

271.  Brachy podium. 

fifi.  Stigmas  two,  plainly  arising  below  the 
apex  (lateral)  on  the  anterior  portion  of  the 
ovary  ;  empty  glumes  awnless. 

268.  Bromus. 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA. 


145 


yy.  Stigmas  three,  inserted  at  the  apex  of  the 
ovary  (terminal) ;  empty  glumes  extending 
into  long  awns.  .  .  .  270.  Megalachne. 

SUB-TRIBE  A. — Pappophoreae. 
Flowering  glumes  with  three  to  many  awns  or  lobes. 

196.  (197)  Pappophorum   (Fig.    72).     Panicles    spike- 
like.     Spikelets  1-3-flowered.     At  maturity  the  flower- 
ing  glumes  with    their   numerous 

awns  resemble  the  fruit  of  a  Com- 
posite with  pappus. 

Species  about  twenty,  especially 
in  the  tropics  of  both  hemispheres, 
one  extending  as  far  as  Northern 
Asia,  North  America,  and  Austra- 
lia. 

Sec.  I.  Polyraphis  Liudl.  (as  a 
genus).  Flowering  glumes  with 
13-23  naked  awns. 

Sec.  II.  Enneapogon  Desv.  (as  a 
genus).  Flowering  glumes  with 
nine,  usually  plumose,  awns. 

197.  (198)  Cottea  Kunth.    Pani- 
cles loose  ;  spikelets  2-6-flowered, 
broad,  short-awned,  laterally  com- 
pressed. 

Species  one  (C.  pappophoroides 
Kunth),  in  tropical  America  as  far 
north  as  Arizona  and  New  Mexico.  FIG.  m.—pappophm-um  paiu- 

ino     fnt\r\\    «  i_      • -i    •     oii        T     /   A  dum  Brown.     (After  Kunth, 

198.  (200)  Schmidtia  Steud.  (An-     Rev.  Gram.  Pi.  si.) 
toschmidtia   Steud.).     Panicles   narrow,  loose ;   spikelets 
resembling  those  of  a  small  Avena ;  empty  glumes  long. 

Species  two,  from  tropical  South  Africa  to  Egypt. 

199.  (208)  Calamochloa   Founder.      Inflorescence    an 
ovate  panicle  composed  of  short  spikes.     Spikelets  3-4 
in  each  spike,  two-flowered.     Flowering  glumes  hairy  on 
the  callus. 

Species  one  ( C.  Jilifolia),  in  Mexico. 

200.  (62)  Cathestechum  Presl.     Spikelets  in  groups  of 
threes,  these  in  loose  rows  on  a  common  axis  and  decidu- 


146  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

cms  as  a  whole  ;  middle  spikelet  2-4-flowered,  the  lateral 
1-2-flowered. 

Species  two,  one  (C. prostratum  Presl),  in  Mexico,  and 
one  (C.  ereetum  Vasey  &  Hack.)  in  Texas  and  Sonora. 

201.  (196)  Pommereulla  L.  fil.    Spikelets  sub-turbinate, 
in   a   dense    spike,    sheathed    at   the   base.     Flowering 
glumes  finally  indurated  and  with  a  pointed  callus.     A 
small,  annual  grass. 

Species  one  (P.  Cornucopia  L.  fil.),  in  the  East  Indian 
Peninsula. 

202.  (204)  Scleropogon    Philippi   (Lesourdia    Fourn.). 
Inflorescence  an  almost  spike-like  panicle  at  whose  apex 
there  is,  in  the  ?  plant,  a  tuft  of  sterile  spikelets  (each 
reduced  to  a  single  glume) ;    $    plant  with   awnless   or 
shortly  three-toothed  flowering  glumes. 

Species  three  (?),  one  in  Chili  which,  together  with 
one  or  two  others,  extends  into  Mexico  and  Texas. 

203.  (206)  Triraphis  Brown.     Panicle    narrow,  elon- 
gated, with  upright  many-flowered  spikelets ;  flowering 
glumes  sometimes  with  membranaceous  marginal  lobes. 
Grasses  with  narrow  or  rush-like  leaves. 

Species  five  in  Australia,  one  in  South  Africa. 

SUB-TRIBE  B. — Seslerieee. 

Flowering  glumes  1-5-awned,  lobed,  or  awuless ;  style  and  stigma 
usually  long,  the  latter  narrow,  protruding  near  the  apex  of  the  flow- 
ering glume. 

204.  (213)     Monanthochloe      Engelmann       (HdocUoa 
Griseb.).     A  creeping  grass  of  the  sea-coast  and  alkaline 
plains,  with  crowded,  short,  convolute  leaves  and  nearly 
concealed  spikelets. 

Species  one  (M.  littoralis),  from  Florida  to  California, 
and  represented  by  a  variety  in  the  Argentine  Bepiiblic. 

205.  (214)  Munroa  Torrey.     Low  grasses  of  the   ele- 
vated  plains.      Branches   much   forked  or  fasciculate ; 
leaves  cuspidate-pointed,  in  clusters  at  the  ends  of  the 
branches ;  spikelets  nearly  concealed  by  the  upper  leaves. 

Species  three,  one  (M.  squarrosa  Torr.)  on  the  pla- 
teaux of  the  "Western  United  States  and  the  Argentine 
Republic,  two  in  extra-tropical  South  America. 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA. 


147 


206.  (215)  Echinaria   Desf.  (PanicastreUa  Monch.).     A 
low  annual.      Spikelets  in  long-pedicellate,  spiny,  capi- 
tate clusters ;  2-3-flowered. 

Species  one  (E.  capitata  Desf.)  (Fig.  73),  in  the  Medi- 
terranean regions. 

207.  Orcuttia  Vasey.     A  low,  prostrate  annual,  with 
long  spikelets  in  racemes ;  empty  glumes  much  like  the 

flowering  glumes,  lobed. 

Species  one  (0.  Californica 
Vasey)  (Fig.  73a),  in  Lower 
California  (San  Quentin  Bay). 

208.  (216)  Ammochloa  Boiss. 
(Cephalochloa  Cosson  &  Dur.). 
Spikelets  small,  in  globose, 


FIG.    73. — Echinaria    capitata    Desf. 
(After  Nees,  Gen.  Germ.,  I.  38.) 


A  El. 

[Fie.  73a. — Orcuttia  Californica 
Vasey.  A,  Portion  of  inflores- 
cence. El,  Floret  with  a  portion 
of  the  rachilla.  D,  Dorsal  view 
of  expanded  flowering  glume. 
E,  Apex  of  palea.  St,  Stamen. 
J.  Pistil.  (Original.)] 


capitate  clusters,  many -flowered  ;  flowering  glumes  three- 
nerved  with  a  rigid  or  cuspidate  point. 

Species  two  ;  low,  annual,  steppe  and  desert  grasses  : 
A.  pungens  Boiss.  in  Algiers  ;  A.  subacauLis  from  Algiers 
to  Palestine  and  South  Spain. 

209.  (217)  Urochlsena  Nees.  Spikelets  few-flowered  ; 
glumes  5-7-nerved  and  produced  into  long,  divergent 
and  curved  awns. 


148 


THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 


Species  one  (U.  pusilla  Nees),  in  South  Africa.  A 
low,  branched  annual. 

210.  (218)  Sesleria  Scopoli  (Fig.  74).  Glumes  keeled, 
inenibraiiaceous ;  flowering  glumes 
with  3-5  small  teeth  that  are 
frequently  produced  into  short 
awns.  Panicles  very  dense  and 
spike-like  or  capitate.  Perennial 
grasses. 

Species  ten,  in  Europe  and 
Western  Asia,  mostly  alpine.  S. 
ccervlea  Ard.,  with  3-5  short  awns, 
extends  all  through  Europe.  Psi- 
lathera  Link  (as  a  genus)  is  a  spe- 
cies (section?)  with  five  distinct 
awns  on  the  flowering  glume  and 
two  short  awns  on  the  palea. 

211.  (223)  Oreochloa  Link.  Habit 
of  the  preceding,  but  with  no  bracts 
at  the  base  of  the  spike.     Spike- 
lets    two-ranked,    turned    to    one 
side. 

Species    two,    0.   disticha    Lk. 
from  the  Carpathians  to  the  Pyre- 
nees, and  0.  Pedemontana  Boiss.  <fc 
FIG.  n.-sesier{a  cceruira  Ard.  Reut.  in  the  TV.  Alps  and  Castile. 

(After  Nees,  Gen.  Germ.,  I. 

212.  (220)    Fingerhuthia    Nees. 

Habit  of  Sesleria ;  the  uppermost  and  lowest  spikelet  of 
the  false  spike  aborted.     A  $  flower,  or  empty  glume 
with  a  short  awn,  above  the  $  flower. 

Species  one  (F.  Africana  Lehm.),  in  South  Africa  and 
Aigiianistan. 

213.  (219)  Elytrophorus  Beauv.  Spikelets  minute,  in 
small  capitate  clusters  and  these  united  into  a  long  con- 
tracted panicle  which  appears  like  a  small  brush  on 
account  of  the  numerous,  short  awns.  Spikelets  man}-- 
flowered,  with  only  one  posterior  stamen. 

Species  one  (E.  articiilatus  Beauv.),  extending  through 
the  entire  tropical  zone  of  the  Old  World. 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND   GENERA. 


149 


SUB-TRIBE  C. — Arundineae. 

Flowering  glumes  awnless  or  short-awned;  rachilla  or  flowering  glume 
with  long  hairs. 

214.  (209)  Gynerium  Humb.  &  Bonpl.  Spikelets 
loosely  2-  oo-flowered,  narrow  ;  glumes  membranaceous  ; 
flowering  glume  three-nerved,  subulate,  produced  into  a 


FIG. 75. — Gynerium argenteum  Nees.    (From  Muller's  "Die 


fine  awn.  Tall  reed-like  grasses  with  long,  rigid,  narrow 
leaves  that  are  much  crowded  at  the  base,  and  very 
large,  thick,  silvery-shining  panicles. 

Species  three,  in  tropical  and  sub-tropical  America. 
G.  argenteum  Nees,  "  Pampas-grass,"  from  Southern  Brazil 
and  the  Argentine  Republic,  has  a  culm  3-6  m.  high ; 
leaves  1-3  m.  long  ;  panicles  0.5-0.8  m.  long;  the  $  pani- 
cle broad-pyramidal;  the  ?  narrower,  linear,  elongated, 


150 


THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 


with  a  magnificent  silvery-white  or  rose-red  sheen. 
Showy,  decorative  plants  for  the  garden.  The  panicles 
are  used  for  dry  bouquets.  [Growing  Pampas-plumes 
is  an  important  industry  in  California.  The  plumes  are 
cut  when  exposed  only  a  few  inches  from  the  leaf-sheath.] 
In  its  native  habitat  the  leaves  are  used  for  paper-mak- 
ing, and  a  decoction  of  the  rhizome  is  employed  as  a 
diuretic. 

215.  (210)  Ampelodesmos  Beauv.  Spikelets  crowded, 
2-oo  -flowered  ;  flowering  glumes  and  the  short  joints  of 
rachilla  clothed  with  short,  woolly  hairs  ;  flowering 
glumes  with  two  short  teeth  between  which  is  a  cuspi- 
date point  ;  ovary  hairy  above. 

Species  one  (A.  tenax  Link).  A  low,  cane-like  grass 
with  nodding  panicles  and  rush-like  leaves,  in  the  regions 
of  the  Mediterranean,  and  especially  abundant  in  Al- 
giers. The  young  leaves  are  used  for  fodder,  and  the 
very  tough  old  ones  are  employed  like  Esparto  ;  in  Italy 

hats  are  woven  from  them, 
and  in  Sicily  they  .are  used 
to  tie  up  grapes. 

216.  (211)  Arundo  L. 
(Donax  'Bennv.,Amphidonax 
Nees,  ScolocJdoa  Mert.  A.- 
Koch). Spikelets  crowded 
with  many  flowers  ;  rachilla 
naked  ;  flowering  glumes 
with  long  hairs,  2-toothed 
and  a  cuspidate  point  be- 
tween the  teeth  ;  ovary 
naked.  Tall  re  ad  -like 
grasses  with  almost  wToody 
stems  and  broad  flat  leaves. 
Species  six,  distributed 
throughout  the  warmer 
countries  of  the  world.  A. 
Doncix  L.  (Fig.  76)  has  a 
culm  2-4  m.  high  and  fully 


FIG.  n.- 


(After  Nees, 


wild  in  wet  places  in  the  Mediterranean  region,  and  is 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA.          151 

generally  cultivated  in  Spanish  South  America,  forming 
living  fences.  The  culms  are  used  for  laths,  and,  when 
split,  for  woven  work.  The  leaves  are  used  for  roofing, 
and  the  rhizomes  are  employed  as  a  diuretic.  It  is  also 
grown  as  a  decorative  plant.  [There  is  a  cultivated 
variety  which  has  its  broad  leaves  striped  with  longitu- 
dinal white  bands.] 

Fossil  Species. — Many  rhizomes,  culms,  and  leaves  of 
A.  Goepperti  Heer  are  found  in  the  tertiary  of  Europe 
and  N.  America  which  show  points  of  agreement  with 
the  living  species.  A.  Groenlandica  Heer  occurs  in  the 
upper  chalk  formation  of  Greenland. 

217.  (212)  Phragmites  Triu.  (Czernya  Presl).     Spike- 
lets   loosely   many-flowered,    lowermost   flower    $ ,  the 
others  usually  $  ;  rarely  the  plants  are  dioecious,  but 
without   any   striking    distinction    between    the   sexes ; 
flowering  glumes  naked,  long-acuminate-pointed.     Habit 
of  Arundo,  but  with  the  culm  usually  not  so  stout. 

Species  three,  one  cosmopolitan,  a  second  in  tropical 
Asia,  and  a  third  (dioecious)  in  the  Argentine  Republic. 
P.  communis  Trin.  is  a  reed-like  grass  with  culms  1-3  m. 
high  and  expanded,  usually  purple  or  violet  colored 
panicles.  It  grows  in  standing  or  sluggish  water  and 
in  swamps,  is  gregarious  in  habit,  and  is  distributed 
throughout  the  world.  The  culms  are  used  for  roofing 
and  as  laths  for  covering  walls  about  to  be  plastered, 
for  matting,  basket-work,  mouth-pieces  of  musical  in- 
struments, weavers'  spools,  etc. ;  the  young  shoots  are 
fed  to  horses,  and  an  infusion  of  the  root  is  used  as  a 
diuretic. 

Fossil  Species. — PA.  Ungeri  Stur.  Khizomes  in  the 
lacustrine  strata  in  Hungary.  Ph.  ceningensis  A.  Br.  is 
found  in  the  tertiary  of  Europe,  the  polar  regions  and 
N.  America.  Ph.  cretaceus  Lesq.  in  the  cretaceous  forma- 
tion of  N.  America. 

SUB- TRIBE  D.— Triodieae. 

Flowering  glume  usually  2-3-toothed  ;   middle  tooth  often  awned  or 
awn-like. 

218.  (205)  Blepharidachne  Hack,  in  Monogr.  Androp.. 


152 


THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 


p.  261  (EremocMoe  S.  Wats.).     Low,   branched   grasses, 

with  crowded,  involute  leaves  ;  spikes  few,  in  capitate 

panicles  ;  flowering  glumes  very  hairy. 

Species  two,  upon  the  high  western  plateaux  of  North 

America. 

219.   (201)  Triodia   Brown.      Panicle   usually   open  ; 

flowering  glume  rounded  on  the  back  (at  least  below), 
coriaceous  or  chartaceous,  often 
hairy  on  the  callus  and  margins. 
Perennial  grasses  with  narrow  rigid 
leaves  and  variable  habit. 

Species  twenty-six,  throughout 
the  temperate  zones,  a  few  in  tropi- 
cal America. 

Sec.  I.  Isotria.  Flowering  glume 
three-parted  almost  to  the  middle. 
Tr.  pungens  Brown,  and  the  related 
Tr.  Mitchelli,  Tr.  Cunning  Jiamii,  and 
Tr.  irritans  Brown,  belonging  to 
the  following  Sec.,  are  character- 
ized by  their  rigid,  involute,  finely- 
pointed,  and  often  sticky  leaves  ; 
they  cover,  often  exclusively,  large 
areas  of  the  deserts  and  elevated 
plains  of  the  interior  of  Australia, 
and  are  known  to  the  colonists  and 
to  travellers  as  "Spinifex"  (not  to 
be  confounded  with  No.  76),  and  are 
very  troublesome. 
Sec.  II.  Sieglingia  Bernhardi  (as  a  genus).  Flower- 

ing glume  with  three  short,  rather  obtuse  teeth.     Triodia 

decujnbens  Beauv.  (Fig.  77)  in  Europe. 

Sec.  III.  RTiombolytrum  Link  (as  a  genus).     Flower- 

ing glume  shortly  two-toothed,   sometimes  entire.     In 

North  and  South  America.     (  T.  filiformis  Nees,  T.  al- 

bescens  Munro,  etc.) 

Sec.  IV.   Tricuspis   Beauv.   (as  a  genus),  (  Windsoria 

Nutt.,  Tridens  B.  <fe  S.).    Flowering  glume  usually  entire, 

but  with  the  three  nerves  extending  into  three  short  awns 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA. 


153 


or  sharp   points.      T.  cuprea  Jacq.,  a  showy  grass  with 
open  panicles  [common  in  the  Eastern  United  States], 

Sec.  V.  Triplasis  Beauv.  (as  a  genus),  (Uralepis  Nutt., 
Diplocea  Eaf.).  Flowering  glumes  three-cleft,  the  middle 
division  recurved  and  awn-like.  North  America. 

219a.  Redfleldia  Vasey. 
Florets  crowded,  the  short 
joints  of  the  rachilla  smooth. 
Flowering  glumes  charta- 
ceous,  densely  hairy  on  the 
callus  only,  3-nerved,  indis- 
tinctly 3-toothed  or  terminat- 
ing in  a  short  mucronate  point. 
Styles  long  ;  stigmas  short. 
Grain  oblong,  terete,  free. 

Species  one  (R.  flexuosa 
Yasey,  Graphephorum  C?)flexu- 
osum  Thurber),  (Fig.  78)  in  the 
"Western  United  States. 

220.   (202)  Diplachne  BeaUV.  FIG.  TS.—Redfieldia  flexuosa  Vasey. 

_.      . ,       ,  x  .  B,  Spikelet.     a,  A  single  floret  show- 

Splkelets     narrow,     many-  ing  joint  of  rachilla,  etc.     a',  A  single 

a  *-  ,  a  .  ,  floret  from  a  one-flowered  spikelet, 

flowered  ;       flowering      glumes  with  a  rudiment  of  a  second  floret 

-  ,,  ,       ,  ,  ,  above,     b,  Apex  of  flowering  glume. 

1-nerved,     keeled,     USUally  E,  Palea.     F,  Flower.    (Original.) 

2-toothed,   the   teeth   mucronate  or  awn-pointed ;   fruit 
3-angled,  unfurrowed. 

Species  fifteen,  in  the  warmer  countries  of  both  hemi- 
spheres. Leptocarydion~H.oclist.  and  Trichoneura  Anders- 
son  include  species  that  form  a  transition  to  Triodia. 

SUB-TRIBE  E. — Eragrosteae. 
Flowering  glumes  three  nerved,  awn  less  or  short-awned. 

221.  (226)   Dissanthelium    Trin.    (Phalaridium    Nees, 
Stenochloa   Nutt.).      Panicle   narrow ;    flowering   glumes 
broad,    obtuse,    awnless,    3-nerved,  the    lateral    nerves 
nearly  marginal. 

Species  three,  of  low  habit,  one  in  California,  the 
others  upon  the  Andes  of  South  America  and  coasts  of 
Mexico. 

222.  (227)  Molinia  Schrank  (Enodium  Gaud.).     Pani 


154 


THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 


cles  diffuse  or  contracted;  spikelets  narrow,  pointed, 
awnless.  Perennial  grasses  with  apparently  uodeless 
culms. 

Species  one  (M.  ca'rulea  Monch),  with  violet-colored 
panicles  and  rigid  leaves,  grows  in  wet  meadows  in 
Central  Europe  and  temperate  Asia.  A  poor  grass  for 
fodder.  [Sparingly  introduced  into  North  America.] 

223.  (230)  Eragrostis  Host.  (Fig. 
79).  Panicles  various,  generally  open. 
Spikelets  usually  densely  many- 
flowered  ;  flowering  glumes  awnless, 
or  at  most  rnucronate-poiuted,  keeled ; 
grain  globose  or  ovate,  uufurrowed. 

Species  about  one  hundred,  distrib- 
uted throughout  all  warm  countries. 

Sec.  I.  Ccdadastos.  Each  ilia  articu- 
late ;  spikelets  small ;  flowering  glumes 
membranaceous.  E.  ciliaris  Link 
in  the  Southern  United  States  and 
throughout  all  tropical  countries. 
II  Vtff  jB'  Macroblepliarus  Philippi  also  belongs 

II  n7  m  here- 

Sec.    II.     Petrocssa    (Megastachya 
Beauv.).     Rachilla   and    usually   also 
FHo?t~«'aC'nia  with  the  palere  remaining  after  the  fruit  and 
&aene8eGermA,ft!r55Naend  flowering  glumes  have  fallen.      Most 
of  the  species  belong  here.     E.  Abys- 
sinica  Link,  is   an   important  food-plant    in  Abyssinia. 
The  various  colored  seeds  have  the  appearance  of  grits, 
and  the  flour  made  from   these   is   baked   into   bread. 
This  grass  is  probably  a  cultivated  form  of  E.  pilom 
Beauv.     Many  species  (e.g.,  E.  Mexicana  Link)  are  culti- 
vated for  ornament.     [E.  oxylepis  of  the  Southwestern 
United  States,  is  a  particularly  showy  species.] 

Sec.  III.  Myriostachya.    Like  the  preceding,  but  with 
long-awued  empty  glumes. 
Species  one. 

Sec.  IV.  Platy  stocky  a.  Bachilla  articulate  ;  spikelets 
large  ;  flowering  glumes  coriaceous. 

224.  (231)  Ipnum   Philippi.      Spikes   short,   standing 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA. 


155 


almost  at  right  angles  to  the  common  axis ;  spikelets 
cylindrical ;  flowering  glumes  with  a  short  mucronate 
point. 

Species  one  (/.  Mendocinum  Phil.),  in  the  Argentine 
Kepublic. 

OBS. — This  genus  most  probably  belongs  to  Diplachne. 

225.  (225)  Eatonia  Baf.  (Rebouka  Kunth,  Colobanthus 
Trin.).     Spikelets  two-flowered,  small,  shining,  very  nu- 
merous  in    contracted  [expanded  in  flower]  and  often 
dense  panicle.     Habit  of  Koeleria. 

Species  two,  E.  obtusa  and  E.  Pennsylvania  Gray,  in 
North  America  [probably  a  third  species  is  represented 
by  E.  filiformis  Vasey]. 

226.  (224)  Avellinia  Parl.     A  small,  annual  grass  with 
a   slender   panicle,    and   very   narrow    spikelets ;  lower 
empty  glumes  short,  very  narrow,  almost  setiform,  the 
second   very    large ;    flowering    glumes 

awiied  below  the  point. 

Species  one  (A.  Michdii  Parl.),  in  the 
regions  of  the  Mediterranean. 

227.  (223)  Koeleria    Pers.    (Collinaria 
Ehrh.).      Spikelets    2-5-flowered,    shin- 
ing ;  empty  glumes  unequal ;  flowering 
glumes  keeled,  entire,  awnless,  or  short- 
awned.      Usually     low,     narrow-leaved 
grasses,  with  narrow,  compact  panicles. 

Species  fifteen,  distributed  through- 
out the  temperate  regions,  mostly  in 
Europe ;  isolated  species  in  South  Africa, 
Patagonia,  and  the  Sandwich  Islands. 

Sec.  I.  AirocMoa  Link  (as  a  genus). 
Flowering  glumes  awnless  or  with  short 
mucronate  points.  K.  cristata  Pers., 
with  silvery  shining  panicles ;  upon  dry 
meadows  in  Europe  and  Western  North 
America.  A  profitable  fodder-grass  for 
sandy  soils. 

Sec.  II.  Lophochloa  Beichen.  (as  a  genus),  (jEgialitis 
Trin.,  ^Egialina  Schult.,  Willidmsia  C.  Koch).  Flower- 
ing glumes  short-awned  from  or  below  the  point.  K. 


FIG.  80.  —  Kceleria 
phleoides  Pers.  (Af- 
ter Nees,  Gen.  Germ., 
1.63.) 


156  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

pMeoides   Pers.,    in   the    regions   of   the   Mediterranean 
(Fig.  80). 

228.  (229)  Catabrosa   Beauv.      Spikelets  small  ;   two- 
flowered  ;  empty  glumes  almost  nerveless  and  very  obtuse, 
much  shorter  than  the  awnless,  indistinctly  three-toothed 
flowering  glume.     Creeping,  aquatic  grasses  with  open 
pyramidal  panicles. 

Species  one  (  C.  aquatica  Beauv.),  in  Europe,  Northern 
Asia,  and  North  America. 

229.  (228)  Sphenopus  Trin.      Small,    delicate,    annual 
grasses  with  minute  awnless  spikelets  upon   somewhat 
thickened  pedicels.    Branches  of  the  panicle  in  fascicles, 
finally  spreading. 

Species  one  (  Sph.  Gouani  Trin.),  along  the  shores  of 
the  Mediterranean  to  the  Caspian  Sea. 

230.  (232)  Cutandia    Willk.      Panicles    few-flowered, 
the  short  branchlets  thickened  at  the  point  and  finally 
strongly  divaricate;  spikelets  narrow,  loosely  flowered, 
usually  awnless.     Annual,  low,  maritime  grasses. 

Species  six,  in  the  Mediterranean  region.     C.  mari- 
tima  Benth.  on  the  seashore. 

SUB-TIUBE  E.— Meliceae. 

Uppermost  glumes  of  the  spikelets  empty  (rarely  with  flowers),  over- 
lapping or  embracing  each  other. 

231.  (234)  Ectrosia   Brown.     Panicles  many -flowered, 
narrow,    compound ;  spikelets   with   1-2   fertile,   short- 
awned  flowers,  followed  by  1-2  $  flowers  and  several 
sterile  glumes. 

Species   four,  in  Australia.     E.   leporina  Brown,  in 
North  Australia  and  Queensland. 

232.  (230)  Harpachne  Hochst.     Spikelets  in  a  simple 
raceme  with  spirally  arranged  branches  which  finally  fall 
off  and  bore  into   objects  by  means  of   their  pointed, 
hairy  bases ;  3-4  fertile  flowers  and   two  sterile   long- 
pointed  glumes. 

Species  one  (H.  Schimperi  Hochst.),  in  tropical  Africa. 

233.  (235)  Heterachne   Benth.    Spikelets  very  flat,  in 
false  spikes  or  heads,  with  one  fertile  flower  and  6-14 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA. 


157 


empty  glumes  which  form,  as  it  were,  an  appendage  to 
the  fruiting  glume ;  flowering  glumes  awnless. 

Species  two,  H.  Brownii  and  H.  GiMiveri  Benth.,  in 
North  Australia. 

234.  (236)  Anthochloa  Nees.    Panicles  capitate,  small ; 
spikelets  few-flowered,  awnless  ;  flowering  glumes  broad, 
flabellate,   finely  toothed,   thin-membranaceous,  silvery 
white. 

Species  two,  in  the  Andes  of  Peru  and  Bolivia.  The 
small  heads  of  A.  lepida  recall  those  of  Hdichrysum  or 
Paronychia. 

235.  (237)  Melica  L.  Spike- 
lets  few-flowered,  mostly  in 
narrow  or  spike-like  panicles ; 
empty     glumes     membraua- 
ceous,     3-5-nerved ;     flower- 
ing   glumes    parchment-like, 
mostly    7-9-nerved,    awnless 
or      short-awned;      anterior 
lodicules   entire    or   slightly 
emarginate. 

Species  over  thirty, 
throughout  temperate  zones, 
excepting  in  Australia.  M.  mi- 
tans  (Fig.  81),  a  forest  grass  in 
Europe,  has  narrow  panicles 
and  nodding,  naked  spikelets ; 
M.  dliata  L.  has  cylindrical  FlG  ^_Melica  nutmj\.  (After 
false  spikes,  and  long-fringed 

flowering  glumes.     It   grows    upon   sunny   hillsides   in 
Europe,  also  cultivated  for  ornament. 

236.  (238)  Diarrhena  Eafin.  (Korycarpus  Zea,  Bcemeria 
Zea,  Onoea  Franchet  and  Savatier).     Spikelets  in  a  loose 
panicle,  3-5-flowered,  almost  linear ;    flowering  glumes 
coriaceous,    shining,    three-nerved,     awnless  ;     fruiting 
glumes  somewhat  remote,  spreading,  leaving  the  beaked 
caryopsis  exposed. 

Species  two,  one  (D.  Japonica  Franch.  and  Sav.)  in 
Japan  and  one  (D.  Americana,  P.  B.)  in  North  America. 


158  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

SUB  TRIBE  F. — Centotheceae. 
Leaves  broad,  netted-veiued. 

237.  (239)  Centotheca  Desv.    Panicles  expanded ;  spike- 
lets    small ;    flowering   glumes    rounded    on   the   back, 
5-7-nerved,  awnless,  but  usually  with  hooked  appendages 
or  small  protuberances  on  the  keel. 

Species  three,  in  tropical  Africa,  Asia,  and  especially 
the  South  Sea  Islands. 

238.  (243)  Zeugites  Schreb.  (Senites  Adans.,  Despretzia 
Kunth,  Krombholzia  Fourn.).     Spikelets  panicled,  many- 
flowered,  but  only  the  lowest  fertile,  the  very  broad  empty 
glumes  approximate  ;  the  upper  $  ,  distant ;  leaves  ovate. 

Species  five,  in  tropical  America  and  Mexico. 

239.  (240)  Orthoclada  Beauv.     Panicles  diffuse  ;  spike- 
lets  lanceolate,   compressed,   one-flowered,  with  a  long 
prolongation  of  the  rachilla  (rarely  two-flowered  without 
this  prolongation)  ;  fruit  strongly  compressed  laterally. 

Species    one    (0.   rariflora   Beauv.),   with   petiolate, 
broad  lanceolate  leaves ;  in  tropical  America. 

240.  (241)  Lophatherum  Brongu.  (Acroelytrum  Steud. 
and   Attetotheea    Steud.).      Spikelets    often    two-ranked 
(rarely  scattered),  sessile  on  the  branches  of  the  panicle, 
linear,  one-flowered,  with  a  tuft  of  sterile  glumes  at  the 
point.    Empty  glumes  two ;  flowering  glumes  pointed  or 
short-awned. 

Species  three,  in  the  East  Indies  in  the  Sunda  Archi- 
pelago to  Japan. 

241.  Pcecilostachys  Hackel.     Spikelets  in  pairs  on  the 
spike-like  branches  of  the  panicle ;  empty  glumes  three, 
no  sterile  glumes  at  apex.      A  sterile   flower   is   often 
found  in  the  axil  of  the  third  glume. 

Species  two,  P.  Hildebrandtii  and  P.  geminata  Hack.,  in 
Madagascar. 

242.  (242)  Streptogyne  Beauv.     Spikelets  large,  linear, 
almost  sessile ;  first  empty  glume  short,  the  second  as  well 
as  the  flowering  glume  involute,  many-nerved,  the  latter 
short-awued,  and  with  1-3  empty  falcate  glumes  above  it. 

Species  one  (St.  crinita  Link),  in  the  tropics  of  both 
hemispheres.      The  detached  fruiting  glumes  hang  for  a 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA.          159 

long  time  by  the  spiral  styles  and  stigmas  which  are  in- 
terlaced above. 

SUB-TRIBE  G. — Eufestuceae. 

Without  the  special  characteristics  of  the  preceding  sub-tribes. 
Flowering  glumes  five-  to  many-nerved. 

243.  (244)  Pleuropogon    Brown    (Lophochlcena    Nees). 
Spikelets  rather  large  in  a  simple,  loose  raceme,  8-14- 
flowered  ;  flowering  glumes  7-nerved,  mucronate-pointed 
or  awned. 

Species  three,  one  (P.  Sabini  Brown)  arctic-circum- 
polar,  and  two  in  California. 

244.  (245)  Brylkinia  F.   Schmidt.     Inflorescence  like 
the    preceding;    spikelets    pendent,    one-flowered   with 
four  empty  glumes ;   flowering  glumes  long-awned.     A 
weak,  broad-leaved  grass. 

Species  one  (B.  cavdata  F.  Schm.),  in  Japan  and 
Saghalin. 

245.  (246)  TJniola  L.  (Trisiola  Eafin.,    Chasmanthium 
Link).     Panicles  usually  loose,  often  showy;   spikelets 
laterally  compressed,  broad,  with  3-20  flowering  glumes 
and  3-6  empty  glumes.     Flowering  glumes  chartaceous 
or  coriaceous,  with  many  delicate  nerves. 

Species  five,  mostly  in  North  America  ;  one  in  Central 
America;  one  in  the  Andes  and  extra-tropical  South 
America.  U.  latifolia  L.  (Fig.  82),  with  broad  leaves 
and  elegant  nodding  spikelets,  is  a  favorite  ornamental 
grass. 

246.  (247)   Distichlis    Kafinesque.      Spikelets    8-16- 
flowered;  the  $  with  a  continuous  and  the  ?  with  an 
articulated   rachis,      oblong   compressed ;     glumes   and 
palese  keeled,  coriaceous  ;  flowering  glumes  many-nerved, 
acute,  awnless,  closely  two-ranked.      Creeping  grasses 
with  rigid,  densely  two-ranked,  involute  leaves. 

Species  four,  along  the  seacoast  and  on  alkaline 
plains  in  the  interior  throughout  America,  one  of  which, 
D.  maritima,  occurs  also  in  Australia. 

247.  (253)  Briza  L.  (Fig.  83).    Spikelets  many -flowered, 
panicled,  broad  ;  glumes  thin-membranaceous,  very  con- 
cave, densely  crowded,  five- to  many-nerved  ;  palesemuch 


160 


THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 


shorter  than  the  flowering  glumes.  Fruit  strongly 
dorsally  compressed. 

Species  twelve,  Europe,  North  Africa,  and  the  tem- 
perate parts  of  Asia  and  South  America. 

Sec.  I.  Eubriza.  Flowering  glumes  obtuse,  without 
lateral  projections,  nerves  separate  their  entire  length. 
B.  medial^.,  "Quaking-grass,"  perennial ;  spikelets  round- 
ish. A  valuable  meadow-grass  in  Middle  Europe.  B. 
maxima  L.  has  large  ovate  and  B.  minor  L.  small,  three- 


Em.  82.— Uniola  lat- 
ifolia  L.  (After 
Gray,  Man.  pi.  11.) 


FIG.  83.—  Briza  maxima  L.    (After 
Trin.,  Spec.  Grain,  pi.  290.) 


cornered,  ovate  spikelets ;  both  are  annuals,  and  fre- 
quently cultivated  as  ornamental  grasses  for  dry  bouquets. 

Sec.  II.  Chascolytrum  Desv.  (as  a  genus).  Flowering 
glumes  awnless  or  mucronate-pointed,  its  nerves  uniting 
at  the  apex.  B.  erecta  Lam.,  an  ornamental  grass. 

Sec.  III.  Ccdotheca  Desv.  (as  a  genus).  Flowering 
glumes,  with  projecting  lateral  angles,  awned. 

Sec.  II.  &  III.  In  South  America ;  B.  elegans  Doll,  in 
Uruguay. 

248.  (251)  Desmazeria  Dumort.    (Brizopyrum    Link). 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA.          161 

Spikelets  very  many-flowered,  strongly  compressed,  with 
crowded,  two-ranked,  coriaceous,  sharply  keeled  glumes 
and  palese.  Flowering  glumes  pointed,  awnless. 

Species  four,  one  in  the  regions  of  the  Mediterranean, 
three  in  South  Africa.  D.  sicula  Dum.  (Brizopyrum  sicu- 
lum  Link)  is  an  annual  frequently  cultivated  as  an  orna- 
mental grass. 

249.  (187)  Wangenheimia   Monch.      A  small   annual 
grass,  with  very  short,  compact,  and  one-sided  spikes. 
Spikelets  awnless,  sharply  keeled,  downy. 

Species  one  ( W,  disticha  Monch),  in  Spain  and  North 
Africa. 

250.  (248)^luropusTrin.(<7Aaw<^acfyZtsNees).  Creep- 
ing,  rigid,   much-branched   grasses,  with   closely   two- 
ranked,  often  stiff  leaves.     Spikelets  densely  crowded, 
many-flowered  ;    flowering    glumes    7-9-nerved,    broad, 
somewhat  mucronate-pointed. 

Species  four,  mostly  in  the  saline  or  alkaline  soil  in 
the  regions  of  the  Mediterranean,  in  Central  Asia,  Arabia, 
Hindostan. 

251.  (250)  Lasiochloa  Kunth.     Spikelets  2-3-flowered 
in  a  crowded  cylindrical  or  interrupted  panicle.     Empty 
glumes   as  long  as   the   spikelet,  5-7-nerved,  obtusely 
keeled,  tuberculate-hispid  ;  flowering  glumes  awnless.  v 

Species  3-4,  in  South  Africa.  L.  hirta  and  L.  adscen- 
dens  Kunth  are  the  most  frequent. 

252.  (249)  Dactylis  L.     Spikelets  3-5-flowered,  much 
compressed,  somewhat  concave  on  the  inner  side ;  ar- 
ranged in  dense  fascicles  ;  empty  glumes  1-3-nerved,  as 
well  as  the  flowering  glumes,  sharply  keeled  ;  the  flower- 
ing glumes  fringed  on  the  keel  and  short  awn-pointed. 

Species  one,  with  several  varieties,  throughout  Eu- 
rope, in  temperate  Asia  and  North  Africa.  Naturalized 
in  North  America.  D.  glomerata  L.  (Fig.  84).  Panicle 
made  up  of  fascicles  or  dense  glomerules.  A  first-class 
fodder-grass  especially  for  heavy,  wet  soils.  Very  pro- 
ductive, rapidly  growing,  especially  after  cutting ;  endures 
shade,  and  on  this  account  is  called  "Orchard-grass"  in 
North  America. 


162 


THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 


253.  (222)  Cynosurus  L.  Panicles  spike-like  or  capi- 
tate, one-sided ;  the  fertile  spikelets  not  enclosed  by  the 
pectinate  sterile  ones ;  flowering  glumes  awned  from  or 
below  the  point,  or  simply  mucronate ;  glumes  of  the 
sterile  spikelets  2-ranked,  spreading. 

Species  five,  in  the  temperate  zone  of  the  Old  World ; 
one  (C.  cristatus)  has  also  been  introduced  into  America. 

Sec.  I.  Eucynosurus.  Flowering  glumes  and  sterile 
glumes  mucronate-pointed,  not  awned.  C.  cristatus  L. 


FIG.  84.—Dacti/lis  -qlnmerata  L. 
(After  Nees,  Gen.  Germ.,  1. 65.) 
(Panicle  represented  too  loose.) 


Fio.  85.— Cynosurus  echinntus 
L.  (After  Mart,  and  Eichler, 
Fl.  Bras,  II,  III,  pi.  37.)  B.f.. 
Fertile,  B.s.,  sterile  spikelets. 


with  linear  false  spikes,  in  all  Europe  on  meadows.  A 
good,  tender  fodder-grass,  also  good  for  the  foundation 
of  grass-plots  or  lawns. 

Sec.  II.  Phalona  (Falona)  Adans.  (as  a  genus).  Glumes 
awned.  C.  echinatus  L.  (Fig.  85)  in  South  Europe,  a 
field  weed. 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA.          163 

254.  (221)  Lamarckia   Munch.  (Chrysurua  Pers.,  Pte- 
rium  Desv.,  Tincea  Garzia).     A  low  annual  grass,  with  an 
elegant,  one-sided,  crowded  panicle  whose  branches  are 
terminated  by  the  fertile  spikelets,  which  are  entirely 
covered  up  by  the  long  awns  of  the  sterile  ones. 

Species  one  (L.  aurea  Monch),  in  the  regions  of  the 
Mediterranean  to  Afghanistan.  Introduced  in  North 
America  (California).  A  favorite  ornamental  grass 
("  Clirysurus  cynosuroides"). 

255.  (252)   Sclerochloa    Beauv.      A  prostrate,    annual 
grass  with  short,  one-sided,  rigid  panicles ;  joints  of  the 
rachilla  much  thickened  ;  glumes  narrow,  very  obtuse. 

Species  one  (S.  dura  Beauv.),  in  southern  and  central 
Europe,  western  and  central  Asia. 

256.  (254)  Schismus  Beauv.  (Electra  Panzer,  Hemisacris 
Steud.).     Low,   annual   grasses   with   somewhat   dense 
panicles.     Large,   somewhat   acute,   white,    membrana- 
ceous-margined  empty  glumes;  and  small,  membrana- 
ceous,  5-9-nerved  flowering  glumes. 

Species  four,  two  South  African,  two  from  the  Medi- 
terranean to  Afghanistan. 

257.  (255)  Nephelochloa  Boiss.    Panicles  very  delicate  ; 
spikelets  very  small ;  flowering  glumes  with  a  straight 
awn  projecting  from  the  two-toothed  point. 

Species  one  (N.  orientalis  Boiss.),  in  the  Orient. 

258.  (256)  Poa  L.     Spikelets  2-6-flowered,  usually  in 
open,  rarely  in  spike-like  panicles  ;  rachilla  and  callus, 
as  well  as  the  marginal  nerves  of  the  flowering  glumes, 
often  clothed  with  tangled  hairs ;  glumes  herbaceous  or 
membranaceous,  awnless  ;  flowering  glumes  often  obtuse. 

Species  about  one  hundred,  distributed  throughout 
all  temperate  and  cold  countries ;  a  few  in  the  high 
mountains  of  the  tropics  ;  some  cosmopolitan. 

Sec.  I.  Pseudopoa.  Habit  of  the  preceding  genus. 
Fruit  grown  to  the  glumes,  slightly  furrowed. 

Species  three,  P.  Persica  Trin.  in  Asia  Minor  and 
Persia. 

Sec.  II.  Eupoa.  Fruit  unfurrowed,  mostly  free.  This 
section  comprises  some  of  the  most  important  fodder- 


164 


THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 


grasses. 


FIG.  86. — Poapratensis  L. 
Fruiting  bract  in  cross-sec- 
tion. (After  Nees,  Gen. 
Germ.,  I.  56.) 


P.  pratensis  L.,  "  June  grass,"  "  Kentucky  Blue 
grass"  (Fig.  86),  has  underground 
runners,  smooth  sheaths,  and  a 
short  ligule.  P.  trivialis  L.  has 
aerial  runners,  rough  sheaths,  and 
a  long  ligule.  P.  alpina  L.  has  no 
runners,  its  leaves  are  obtuse  and 
spikelets  large  ;  found  in  the  high 
mountains  of  the  northern  hemi- 
sphere and  in  the  Arctic  region. 
The  largest  species  of  the  genus  is 
P.  ftabdlata  Hook.  (Dactylis  c&spi- 
tosa  For st.)  the  "Tussock  grass" 
of  the  Falkland,  Fire  Islands,  and 
Kerguelen  Laud.  This  grass  forms 
great  tufts  which  reach  2  m.  in 
height,  and  its  leaves  are  arranged 

like  a  fan.     Its  culture  is  remunerative  only  where  the 

summers  are  very  moist. 

Sec.  III.  Dioicopoa.    Dioecious,  but  without  any  other 

difference  between  the  two  sexes.     Natives  in  America. 

P.  Chilensis  Trin.,  P.  lanuginosa  Poir.  (Poidium  Nees  is  a 

scantily -flowered  Poo). 

259.  (257)  Colopodium  Trin.  (Arctophila  Kupr.).    Spike- 
lets   1-2-flowered,  loosely  panicled;   rather   small   and 
bright-colored.     Flowering  glumes  broad,  very  obtuse, 
membranaceous,  awnless  ;  ovary  naked.     Habit  of  Poa. 

Species  twelve,  in  the  Orient  and  central  Asia,  espe- 
cially on  high  mountains  ;  two  species  (C.fulvum  and  C. 
pendidinum  Gris.)  are  arctic,  forming  a  peculiar  section 
(Arctophila}  with  the  callus  of  the  flowering  glume  hairy. 

260.  (258  §)  Dupontia  Brown.    Differs  from  the  preced- 
ing genus  only  in  the  longer  empty  glumes.    Callus  of  the 
flowering  glumes  distinctly  hairy  ;  panicles  contracted. 

Species  two,  D.  Fischeri  Brown  and  D.  psilosantha 
Kupr.,  in  the  arctic  zone. 

261.  (258  §)  Scolochloa  Link.     Spikelets  3-4-flowered, 
lanceolate  ;  panicles  loose ;  flowering  glumes  rigid,  not 
keeled,  callus  hairy  ;  ovary  hairy.    Tall,  reed-like  grasses. 

Species  two,  in  the  northern  temperate  zones  of  the 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA. 


165 


Old  and  New  World.  S.  festucacea  Link  in  both  Old 
and  New  World  ;  S.  spiculosa  Schmidt  only  upon  Sag- 
halin. 

262.  (258)  Graphephorum  Desv.     Like  the  preceding, 
but  lower  and  more  delicate  in  habit,  with  more  delicate 
almost  membranaceous  glumes  and  naked  ovary. 

Species  one  (G.  melicoides  Desv.),  N.  America. 

263.  (259)  Glyceria  Brown.     Spikelets  many-flowered 
in   narrow   or    expanded   panicles.     Flowering    glumes 
rounded  on  the  back,  obtuse,  awn- 
less,  somewhat  dry-membranaceous 

near  the  tip  ;  5-9-nerved.    Fruit  free, 
oval. 

Species  sixteen,  mostly  in  N. 
America,  some  endemic  in  Australia, 
a  few  in  Europe  and  Asia ;  one 
species,  G.  fluitans  Brown,  "  Float- 
ing Manna-grass"  (Fig.  87),  which 
has  linear,  long-cylindrical  spikelets, 
somewhat  acute  flowering  glumes  and 
narrow  panicles,  is  cosmopolitan  and 
aquatic.  It  is  one  of  the  best  fodder- 
grasses  for  swampy  meadows.  The 
fruit  is  collected  in  Prussia,  Silesia, 
and  Poland  by  striking  the  panicles  . 
over  a  sieve.  It  forms  an  article  of 
commerce,  and  is  cooked  for  mush. 
G.  aquatica  Sm.,  which  is  cane-like, 
with  expanded  panicles,  often  occurs  F'£ 
in  quantities  on  the  edges  of  ponds,  Gen-  Germ.,  1.57.) 
and  in  a  young  state  forms  a  useful  food  for  cattle. 

264.  (259)  Atropis  Eupr.  (PuccineUia  Parl.).     In  gen- 
eral like  the  preceding,  but  distinguished  by  the  lodicules 
and  style  (see  key).     Fruit  usually  grown  to  the  palea. 

Low,  salt-loving  grasses,  often  with  rigid  leaves. 
Species  fourteen,  in  all  the  temperate  zones.     A.  dis- 
tans  Griseb.  is  very  widely  distributed. 

265.  (260)  Festuca  L.     Spikelets   usually  lanceolate, 
paniculate  or  racemed,  two-  to  many-flowered ;  flowering 
glumes    rounded    on    the    back    below,    often     keeled 


166  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

above,  usually  awiied  from  the  point,   rarely  below  it, 
chartaceous     to     membranaceous, 
five-nerved  ;  style  almost  wanting; 
fruit  long,  usually  furrowed  on  the 
inner  side,  often  grown  to  the  palea. 
Species  about  eighty,  scattered 
over   all   countries,    especially   the 
It  4      temperate  ones. 
FiG.88.-Fe»tucaovinaL,.Di,         Sub-genus  I.  Eufestuca.     Spike- 
8£tta?Af£?  Nees?8^:  lets  in  panicles,  rarely  in  racemes, 
distinctly  pedicellate;  anthers  and 

stigmas  projecting  from  the  glumes  at  the  time  of  flower- 
ing. Perennial  species,  separable  into  several  sections. 
To  this  sub-genus  belongs  F.  ovina  L.,  "  Sheep's  Fescue," 
with  involute,  usually  filiform  leaves,  the  ligules  of  which 
are  auriculate.  It  is  distributed  in  numerous  varie- 
ties over  all  the  temperate  countries  of  the  northern 
hemisphere,  preferring  sandy  soils  and  dry  mountain 
slopes  ;  a  valuable  pasture-grass,  especially  for  sheep,  in 
places  where  nothing  better  will  thrive.  F.  rubra  L., 
usually  with  runners,  and  ligule  not  auriculate,  is  also  a 
good  pasture-grass.  F.  datior  L.  (F.  pratensis  Huds., 
Schedonorus  elatior  Beauv.),  "  Meadow  Fescue,"  has  flat 
leaves  with  two  small,  falcate  auricles  at  the  base.  This 
is  a  very  valuable  meadow-  and  pasture-grass,  especially 
for  the  moister  places,  and  also  for  lawns.  Leucopoa 
Griseb.  is  a  species  of  the  section  Varies.  Whether  F. 
quadrideniata  Kunth  with  four-toothed  flowering  glumes 
belongs  here  is  doubtful.  This  tall  (3-4  m.)  species  of 
the  Ecuador  Andes  is  deadly  to  all  cattle,  but  serves  for 
covering  roofs. 

Sub-genus  II.  Vulpia  Gmelin  (as  a  genus).  Spikelets 
in  panicles  or  racemes  ;  pedicels  often  thickened  above  ; 
stamens  and  stigmas  usually  remaining  between  the 
glumes  during  the  time  of  flowering.  Mostly  annuals. 
Ctenopsis  De  Not.  (Fest.  pectinella  Del.),  with  much 
crowded  one-sided  racemes,  from  North  Africa,  belongs 
here.  It  is  sometimes  cultivated  as  an  ornamental  grass. 
Sub-genus  III.  Nardurus  Eeichenb.  (as  a  genus,) 
(Micropyrum  and  Festucaria  Link,  Castdlia  Tin.).  Spike- 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA.          167 

lets  in  simple  or  branched  racemes  with  very  short  pedi- 
cels appressed  to  the  rachis ;  stamens  and  stigmas  pro- 
truding. F.  Lachenalii  Spenn.  in  Western  Europe. 

266.  (260  §)  Catapodium  Link.     Spikelets  very  short 
pedicelled,  in  simple  racemes. 

Species  two,  C.  loliaceum  Link  and  C.  Lolium  (Bal.) 
Hack.,  in  the  regions  of  the  Mediterranean. 

267.  (260  §)  Scleropoa    Griseb.      Panicles    one-sided, 
slightly  branched.     Spikelets  with  thick  pedicels. 

Species  two,  in  the  Mediterranean  region,  one  of  which, 
S.  rigida  Griseb.,  is  also  in  Western  Europe  as  far  as 
England.  Like  the  preceding  genus,  it  differs  from  Fes- 
tuca  only  in  the  punctiform  hilum,  and  perhaps  should 
be  considered  as  a  sub-genus. 

SUB-TRIBE  H. — Brachypodieae. 

Spikelets  like  those  of  Eufestucew,  but  with  simple,  roundish  starch- 
grains,  and  with  the  outermost  cell-layer  of  the  uucellus,  which  in 
most  grasses  disappears  when  the  fruit  is  ripe,  developed  into  a 
strong,  thick-walled  layer. 

268.  (263)  Bromus  L.  (Fig.  89).     Spikelets  in  panicles, 
rarely  in  racemes,  usually  large  ;  flowering  glumes  5-9- 
nerved,  herbaceous,   usually   two-toothed,  awned   from 
the  back  below  the  point  or   from  between   the  teeth, 
rarely    awnless;     awn    sometimes   straight,    sometimes 
divergent,    but    never    geniculate ;    ovary   with   a   2-3- 
lobed,  hairy,  cushion-like  appendage  at  the  summit,  be- 
tween the  furrows  of  which  arise  the  stigmas.     Stigmas 
sessile  on  the  anterior  side ;  fruit  linear  or  oblong,  fur- 
rowed, adherent  to  the  palea. 

Species  over  forty,  -most  abundant  in  the  north  tem- 
perate zone,  some  also  in  temperate  South  America, 
a  few  on  the  mountains  of  the  tropics. 

Sub-genus  I.  Festucoides.  Mostly  tall  perennials ; 
panicles  loose  ;  first  empty  glume  one-,  the  second  usu- 
ally 3-nerved  ;  flowering  glumes  short-awned  ;  palea  with 
a  very  short  fringe  on  the  keels.  Br.  erectus  Huds.,  with 
upright  spikelets,  ciliate  leaves  and  awns  half  the  length 
of  the  flowering  glume,  grows  i-n  dry  meadows  in  Europe. 
On  dry  chalky  soils  it  yields  considerable  hay  and  is  a 


168 


THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 


valuable  forage-grass  for  such  places.  The  related  B. 
inermis  Leyss.,  with  awnless  spikelets  and  creeping 
rhizomes,  is  an  important  pasture-grass  for  dry  climates. 
The  rhizome  of  Br.  catharti- 
cus  Vahl.  of  Chili  is  valued 
there  as  a  purgative. 

Sub-genus  II.  Stenobro- 
mus.  Low  annuals  with 
narrow  spikelets  becoming 
broader  above.  Empty 
glumes  as  in  Sub-genus  I. 
Flowering  glumes  keeled, 
long-awned;  palea  with  a  stiff 
fringe.  Weeds.  B.  Tectorum 
and  B.  sterilis  L.  in  all 
Europe,  and  introduced  in 
America.  Anisantha  C.  Koch 
also  belongs  here. 

Sub-genus  III.  Zeobromus 
(Serrafalcus  Parl.).  Annuals, 
with  ovate  or  lanceolate 
spikelets,  narrower  above ; 
first  empty  glume  3-5- 
nerved,  second  5-7-nerved ; 
(After  Nees,  flowering  glumes  7-9-nerved, 
not  keeled  ;  awn  often  spread- 
ing, rarely  wanting ;  palea  with  a  stiff  fringe  of  hairs. 
B.  secalinus  L.  ("  Chess"),  panicles  drooping  after  flower- 
ing, leaves  smooth  ;  a  weed  among  crops,  in  wet  years, 
sometimes  very  abundant  in  rye.  If  the  fruit  is  not 
separated  by  a  chess-sieve  the  rye  is  worthless,  for  the 
flour  prepared  from  it  will  be  dark-colored,  remain  moist, 
and  is  narcotic.  Br.  arvensis  L.,  with  similar  panicles 
but  hairy  leaves,  is  less  dangerous.  B.  mollis,  with  the 
branches  of  the  panicle  upright  and  hairy  spikelets, 
growing  in  sandy  places,  furnishes  a  transient  green  fod- 
der on  light  soils.  Triniusa  Steud.  is  a. species  usually 
having  three  awns. 

Sub-genus  IV.  Libertia  Lejeune  (as  a  genus,  MicJie- 
laria  Dum.).     Like  Zeobromus,  but  the  flowering  glume 


FIG.  89. — Bromus  mollis  L 

Gen.  Germ.,  I.  75.) 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA.          169 

is  three-cleft,  three-awned,  and  has  two  lateral  projec- 
tions. B.  Arduennensis  Kunth  is  a  species  of  this  sub- 
genus. 

Sub-genus  V.  Ceratochloa  Beauv.  (as  a  genus).  Spike- 
lets  lanceolate,  compressed.  Both  empty  and  flowering 
glumes  many -nerved,  keeled.  Ovary  with  three  distinct 
elevations  at  the  summit.  B.  unioloides  Kunth  (B. 
Schraderi  Kunth,  CeratocUoa  pendula  Schrad.).  Spikelets 
6-10-nowered,  compressed,  arranged  in  loose  panicles, 
drooping  at  maturity  ;  awns  very  short ;  from  the  West- 
ern United  States  to  Chili  and  the  Argentine  Republic. 
A  valuable  fodder-grass  for  warmer  countries,  since  it 
furnishes  considerable  foliage  as  early  as  January  and 
February.  In  northern  countries  it  freezes  out.  Some- 
times grown  for  ornament.  B.  Mango  Desv.  was,  before 
the  introduction  of  the  European  grains,  the  most  im- 
portant cereal  of  the  native  Chilians. 

269.  (199)  Boissiera  Hochstetter.     Belated  to  the  Pap- 
pophorece  by  the  5-9  dorsal  awns,  but  is  a  Bromus  as  re- 
gards habit  and  anatomical  characters  of  the  fruit.     A 
low  annual  with  crowded  panicles. 

Species  one  (B.  bromoides  Hochst.),  on  the  elevated 
plains  of  the  Orient. 

270.  (261)  Megalachne    Steud.    (Pantathera   Philippi). 
A  Zeobromus  as  regards  its  habit  of  growth,  but  with 
long-awned  empty  glumes  ;  flowering  glumes  awned  from 
the  point,  faintly  five-nerved  ;  fruit  unknown. 

Species  one  (M.  Berteroniana  Steud.),  upon  Juan  Fer- 
nandez. (Union  with  the  Brachypodiece  doubtful.) 

271.  (264)  Brachypodium  Beauv.  (Hemibromus  Steud.). 
Spikelets  many-flowered,  narrow,  almost  cylindrical,  in 
a  simple  raceme  (false  spikes)  with  very  short  pedicels ; 
flowering  glumes  usually  awned  from  the  point,  edge 
entire,  7-9-nerved ;  palea  with  stiff-fringed  keels;  fruit 
grown  to  the  flowering  glume  and  palea. 

Species  six,  in  Europe,  temperate  Asia  and  its  tropical 
high  mountains,  in  North  and  South  Africa  and  their 
central  high  mountains,  rarely  in  North  America. 
Medium  grade  fodder  grasses.  B.  pinnatum  Beauv. 
with  upright,  and  B.  sylvaticum  B.  with  nodding  racemes, 


170  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

are  'widespread.     Trachynia  Link  is  an  annual  species 
with  few  spikelets. 

TRIBE  XII.— HORDEJE. 

Spikelets  one-  to  many-flowered  (if  many,  the  upper- 
most flower  imperfect),  sessile  on  teeth  or  notches  of  the 
rachis,  forming  a  spike. 

A.  Stigma  one,  spike  unilateral 272.  Nardus. 

NOTE. — Compare  Streptogyne  with  2-8  stigmas. 

B.  Stigmas  ttvo,  spike  symmetrical. 

a.  Spikelets  solitary  at  the  notches  of  the  rachis. 
a.  Spikelets  in  the  median  line  of  the  rachis,  that 
is,  the  glumes  having  their  backs  turned  to  the 
hollow  surface  of  the  rachis. 

I.  Spikelets  many-flowered.     .     273.  Lolium. 
II.  Spikelets  two-flowered  ;  flowering  glumes 

three-cleft 274.  Kralikia. 

III.  Spikelets  with  one  lower  $  flower,  and  one 
upper  $  flower ;  flowering  glumes  awn- 
less 275.  Kerinozoma. 

IV.  Spikelets  one-flowered. 

1°.  Dioecious.     Empty  glumes    grown   to 
the  rachis  for  half  their  length. 

277.  Jouvea. 

2°.  Hermaphrodite.     Empty  glumes  free. 

*  Empty    glumes    two,    the    lower 

shorter.       Callus      of      flowering 

glume  hairy.      .     276.  Oropetium. 

**  Empty  glume  one.     Callus  naked. 

278.  Monerma. 

**'*  Empty  glume  one.  Joints  of  the 
rachilla  with  wing-like  append- 
ages  278a.  Ischnurus. 

/?.  Spikelets  transverse,  that  is,  the  sides  turned 
toward  the  hollowed  surface  of  the  rachis. 
I.  Spikelets  1-2-flowered  in  a  slender,  articu- 
late spike,  each  joint   of   which    separates 
with  the  adjoining  spikelet  at  maturity. 
1°.  Empty  glumes  two,  exceeding  the  flow- 
ering glumes. 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA.          171 

*  Flowering   glumes   awnless ;    callus 
naked 279.  Lepturus. 

**  Flowering    glumes    awned ;    callus 

hairy 280.  Scribneria. 

2°.  Empty  glume  one,  very  small. 

281.  Psilurus. 

II.  Spikelets  two-  to  many-flowered,  usually  in 
stout  spikes  whose  joints  either  do  not  dis- 
articulate at  maturity,  or  which  separate 
with  the  spikelet  above  (Heteranthdium 
excepted). 

1°.  All  the  spikelets  fertile  or  the  lowest 
only  sterile. 

*  Flowering   glumes   with   a   distinct 
callus  which  is  limited  by  a  furrow 
at  the  base ;  falling  off  at  maturity, 
each  with  a    single  grain  which  is 
grown  to  the  palea.  282.  Agropyrum. 

**  Flowering  glumes  without  a  callus, 
persistent  at  maturity  ;  grain  free, 
t  Empty   glumes    subulate,  one- 
nerved 284.  Secale. 

ft  Empty  glumes  oblong,  truncate, 

two-keeled.      .   283.  Haynaldia. 

ttt  Empty  glumes  ovate,  three-  to 

many-nerved.  .      285.  Triticum. 

2°.  The    one    fertile    spikelet    alternating 

with  three  sterile  ones  which  consist  of 

numerous  long-awned  glumes. 

286.  Heteranthelium. 
b.  Spikelets  2-6  at  each  joint  of  the  rachis. 

NOTE. — Compare  the  lower  joiuts  of  the  axis  in  Scribneria. 

a.  Stamens  three  in  each  flower. 

1.  Spikelets  one-flowered  or  with  a  rudiment 
only  of  a  second.       .     .     .     287.  Hordeum. 
II.  Spikelets  two-  to  many-flowered. 

1°.  Empty  glumes  a  little  smaller  than  the 
flowering  glumes.     .     .     .  288.  Elymus. 


172 


THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 


2°.  Empty  glumes  very  small  or  none. 

289.  Asprella. 
ft.  Stamens  10-40  in  each  $  flower.     290.  Pariana. 

SUB-TRIBE  A.— Nardeae. 

Spikes  unilateral;  stigmas  one;  starch-grains  compound. 
272.  (271)  Nardus  L.  Both  series  of  spikelets  very 
close  together,  apparently  united  on  the  inner  side  of  the 
continuous  rachis.  Spikelets 
one-flowered ;  empty  glume 
one,  very  small,  grown  to 
the  rachis,  often  indistinct ; 
flowering  glumes  arranged  in 
the  median  line  of  the  rachis, 
awned.  Spikelets  not  open- 
ing in  flower.  (The  glumes 
remain  almost  embracing 
oach  other,  only  at  the  apex 
of  the  spikelet  is  a  small 
opening  for  the  stigma  and 
anthers.) 

Species  one  (N.  stricta  L.) 
(Fig.  90).  Leaves  subulate, 
rigid.  By  the  distichous  ar- 
rangement of  the  short 
branches  of  the  rhizome  this 
grass  forms  a  very  thick  and 
dense  turf.  It  grows  in  moist 
calcareous  soils  throughout 
Europe  arid  Northern  Asia. 
ft  AJ£Kf  It  is  a  useless  grass,  crowding 


a  stigma. 


out  better  sorts. 


SUB-TRIBE  B.— Lolieae. 

Spikelets  standing  in  the  median  line  of  the  rachis;  starch-grains  usu- 
ally compound. 

273.  (265)  Lolium  L.  Rachis  not  articulate,  terminal 
spikelets  with  two  empty  glumes  ;  lateral  spikelets  with 
the  upper  (outer)  one  only,  or  at  most  a  rudiment  of  the 
lower. 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA. 


173 


Species  six,  in  Europe,  North  Africa  and  temperate 
Asia,  often  introduced  into  other  countries.  L.  perenne 
L.,  English  "  Bay-grass"  (Fig.  91),  is  a  perennial,  with 
leaves  folded  in  the  bud,  and  awnless  spikelets.  A  valu- 
able pasture-grass  upon  fresh,  heavy  soils,  and  much 
prized  for  lawns.  L.  Italicum  A.  Braun,  Italian  "  Ray- 
grass,"  lasts  2-3  years ;  leaves  rolled  in  the  bud ;  spike- 


J 

FIG.  91.—  Lolium  perenne  L.    (After  Nees,  Gen.  Germ.,  I.  78.) 

lets  mostly  awned.  A  tall-growing  species,  and  can 
therefore  be  well  recommended  for  mowing.  Very 
profitable  when  irrigated.  L.  temulentum  L.  "  Darnel " 
( Crcepalia  Schrauk.  as  a  genus),  annual,  flowering  glumes 
elliptical  at  maturity  ;  empty  glumes  as  long  as  or  longer 
than  the  spikelets.  A  weed  among  grain  crops,  trouble- 
some in  wet  years.  The  grain,  as  well  as  that  of  the 
related  L.  remotum,  which  is  frequent  in  flax  fields  and 
distinguished  by  the  shorter  empty  glumes,  contains  a 
narcotic  principle  (Loliin)  soluble  in  ether,  which 


174  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

causes  eruptions,  trembling,  and  confusion  of  sight  in 
man  and  in  flesh-eating  animals,  and  very  strongly  in 
rabbits,  but  it  does  not  affect  swine,  horned  cattle,  or 
ducks.  Arthrochortiis  Lowe  belongs  to  this  genus. 

274.  (272)  Kralikia  Cosson  &  Durieu.    Spikes  slender  ; 
spikelets  very  small ;  empty  glumes  two ;  callus  of  the 
flowering  glumes  bearded. 

Species  one  (K.  Africana  C.  &  D.),  in  Algiers. 

275.  Kerinozoma  Steud.     A  much-branched  prostrate 
grass  with  only  3-5  spikelets  in  each  spike,  with  a  small 
cup-shaped,  membranaceous,  bracteate  leaf  enclosing  the 
base.     Terminal  spikelet  none.     Upper  leaf-sheath  in- 
flated, its  blade  short. 

Species  one  (K.  littorcdis  Zolling.),  in  Java. 

276.  (273)  Oropetium  Trin.    A  dwarf  grass,  the  minute 
spikelets  almost  immersed  in  the  notches  of  the  flexuose 
rachis.     Flowering  glumes  awnless. 

Species  one  (0.  Thomceum  Trin.),  in  the  East  Indies. 

277.  (194)  Jouvea  Fournier.    Only  the  ?  plant  known. 
First  empty  glume  cartilaginous,  and,  like  the  second, 
grown  fast  to  the  rachis  for  half  its  length. 

Species  one  (J.  straminea  Fourn.),  on  the  sea-coasts  of 
Mexico.  A  rush-like,  thorny  grass. 

278.  (270)  Monerma  Beauv.     Spikes  cylindrical,  subu- 
late, articulated.    Spikelets  deeply  immersed  in  the  rachis, 
awnless,  terminal  with  two,  others  with  one  empty  glume, 
these  coriaceous  ;  flowering  glumes  membranaceous. 

Species  three,  one  (M.  sitbidata  Bom.  et  Schult.)  in  the 
mediterranean  regions,  South  Africa,  and  Australia  ;  one 
from  the  Pacific  Islands  and  Australia  to  Ceylon  ;  the 
third  in  Madagascar. 

278a.  Ischnurus  Balf.  fil.  Like  Monerma,  but  the  joints 
of  the  rachilla  are  provided  in  front  with  wing-like  ap- 
pendages which  almost  cover  the  deeply-immersed  empty 
glumes.  Spikelets  not  filling  up  the  excavations  in  the 
rachis  ;  the  spike  is  therefore  pitted. 

Species  one  (/.  pidchettus  Balf.  fil),  a  native  of  Socotra 
(an  island  east  of  Tropical  Africa). 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA. 


175 


SUB-TRIBE  C.— Leptureae. 

Spikelets  transverse;  starch-grains  compound. 

279.  (269)  Lepturus  Brown.     In  habit  like  the  genus 
Monerma,  but  with  two  nearly  equal,  approximate  empty 
glumes  opposite  in  the  terminal  spikelet.     Low  annuals. 

Sec.  I.  Eidepturus.     Spikelets  one-flowered. 

Species  one,  from  the  Baltic  Sea  to  Egypt  along  the 
coast ;  the  second  in  the  Mediterranean  regions  and 
through  the  Orient  and  Hindostan  to  Australia;  the 
third  from  Persia  to  Afghanistan. 

Sec.  II.  Pholiurus  Trin.  (as  genus).  Spikelets  two- 
flowered. 

Species  one,  L.  Pannonicus  Kunth,  from  Hungary  to 
Trans-Caucasia. 

280.  Scribneria   Hackel.     Bachis   not   articulate   nor 
excavated ;  spikelets  frequently  in  pairs  (one  pedicellate) 
on   the   lower  joints  [solitary  above]. 

Empty  glumes  somewhat  unequal,  ex- 
centrically  keeled,  coriaceous ;  flower- 
ing glumes  keeled,  membranaceous, 
two-toothed,  awned  between  the  teeth. 
The  rachilla  prolonged  beyond  the 
flower  and  bearded  at  the  point. 
Stamens  not  exserted  at  flowering  time. 
Stigma  short.  Grain  linear,  laterally 
compressed,  unfurrowed. 

Species  one  (S.  Bolanderi  Hack., 
Lepturus  Bolanderi  Thurb.).  A  low, 
delicate  annual  in  California  and 
Oregon. 

281.  (270)  Psilurus  Trin.     A  delicate 
grass  with  very  long,  slender,  curved 
spikes,    the    joints   not   hollowed   out. 
Empty    glumes    many    times    shorter 
than  the  flowering  glumes,  the  latter 

finely  awned  from  the  point ;  rachilla  prolonged  beyond 
the  flower,  often  having  a  second  flower ;  stamen  one. 

Species  one  (P.  nardoides  Trin.),  South  Europe  to 
Afghanistan. 


'A2. 

FIG.  91a.— Scr f  bneria 
Bolanderi  Hackel. 
A  1,  Pedicellate  spike- 
let  viewed  from  the 
outside.  42,  Same 
seen  from  the  inside, 
o,  Floret  with  p  r  o  - 
longation  of  rachilla 
detached.  (After  Hack- 
el, Hot.  Gazette,  vol. 
xi.  pi.  5.) 


176 


TUB  TRUE  GRASSES. 


SUB-TRIBE  D.— Triticeae. 

Spikelets  transverse  (side  against  the  rachis);  empty  glumes  opposite; 
starch-grains  simple. 

282.  (266)  Agropyrum  Gartn.  (Elytrigla  Desv.).  Spikes 
with  the  rachis  articulate  or  continuous  ;  spikelets  more 

or  less  compressed, 
3-co  -flowered,  all  fer- 
tile ;  empty  glumes  not 
inflated,  narrower  than 
the  flowering  glumes, 
lanceolate  or  linear; 
flowering  glumes  coria- 
ceous, rounded  on  the 
back  or  slightly  keeled 
above,  5-7-nerved, 
awnless  or  awned,  the 
uppermost  often 
sterile  ;  grain  com- 
pressed  on  the  back, 
hairy  at  the  apex, 
slightly  sulcate. 

Species  thirty-two, 
distributed  throughout 
all  temperate  countries. 

Sec.  I.  Agropyrum. 
Perennials.  Spikes 

FiG.92.-^roWrumre»en,(L.)Beauv.  (After  Usually    long   and    nar- 
Nees,  Gen.  derm.,  I.  80.)  row     ^fa     terminal 

spikelets ;  empty  glumes  not  keeled,  3-5-nerved.  A. 
repens  Beauv.  (Triticum  repens  L.).  "Couch  grass," 
"Witch  grass"  (Fig.  92),  has  creeping  .rhizomes,  flat 
leaves,  somewhat  acute  empty  and  flowering  glumes. 
Common  in  Europe  and  Asia,  also  in  North  and  South 
America.  A  troublesome  weed  in  cultivated  fields.  The 
somewhat  superficial,  creeping  runners  may  be  removed 
by  harrowing  and  raking  them  off,  or  killed  by  deep 
ploughing  ;  and  they  may  be  smothered  by  thick  plant- 
ing of  leafy  plants,  like  the  clover.  For  poor  pastures  it 
is,  especially  when  young,  valuable  fodder-grass  and  is 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA.          Ill 

useful  to  fasten  the  sand  on  river  banks.  The  juicy 
rhizomes  and  runners  are  a  nourishing  food  for  cattle  ; 
they  contain  3  %  sugar  and  6-8  %  Triticin,  a  gummy  car- 
bohydrate, and  are  officinally  known  as  "radix  graminis." 
The  extract  acts  as  a  solvent  upon  collections  of  the 
mucous  membranes  and  in  affections  of  the  intestinal 
canal.  A  syrup  and  even  alcohol  are  also  made  from  it. 
[A.  glaucum  E.  &  S.  (?),  "Blue  Stem,"  is  a  valued  hay- 
grass  in  Montana.]  A.  junceum  Beauv.  is  distinguished 
by  its  involute  leaves,  obtuse  spikelets,  and  articulate 
spikes.  It  serves  to  fasten  down  the  dunes  upon  sandy 
coasts.  Roegneria  C.  Koch  is  a  species  of  this  section. 

Sec.  II.  Eremopyrum  Jaub.  &  Spach.  (as  a  genus). 
Spikes  short,  usually  without  terminal  spikelets ;  empty 
glumes  keeled,  one-  or  indistinctly  five-nerved. 

Species  seven,  mostly  oriental  annuals.  T.  cristatum 
Schreb.  extends  as  far  west  as  Hungary  and  Vienna. 

283.  (266  §)   Haynaldia   Schur.      Eachis  of  the  very 
compact  spike  articulated ;  spikelets  not  inflated ;  two- 
flowered  ;  empty  glumes  flat  or  channelled  between  the 
two  keels,  long-awned ;  flowering  glumes  keeled,  awned 
below  the  point ;  grain  free,  laterally  compressed,  nar- 
rowly sulcate. 

Species  two,  one  (H.  villosa  Schur.)  in  the  Mediterra- 
nean and  steppe  regions  as  far  as  Hungary  ;  the  other 
(H.  hordeacea  Hack.)  in  Algiers. 

284.  (267)  Secale  L.     Spikes  without  terminal  spike- 
lets,  somewhat  loose,  rachis  articulate  (cultivated  forms 
excepted) ;    spikelets   not   inflated,   two-,    rarely   three- 
flowered,  the  lower  flowers  approximate  ;  empty  glumes 
subulate-pointed  ;  flowering  glumes  long-awned  from  the 
point,  sharply  keeled  to  the  base ;  keel  fringed ;  grain 
slightly  compressed  laterally,  deeply  sulcate,  hairy  at 
the  apex,  free,  without  epiblast ;  embryonic  rootlets  four. 

Species  two,  S.  fragile  Bieberst.,  with  long  awns  to 
the  empty  glumes  extending  far  beyond  the  flowering 
glumes,  in  the  sandy  plains  of  Hungary  and  Southern 
Eussia,  annual ;  and  S.  cereale  L.,  Eye  (Fig.  93),  with 
subulate-pointed  empty  glumes  which  do  not  exceed  the 
flowering  glumes.  The  original  species  (called  S.  mon- 


178 


THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 


tanum  Guss.)  grows  upon  mountains  of  Spain  and  Mo- 
rocco, through  Silicia,  Dalmatia,  Servia,  Greece,  Asia 
Minor,  Armenia,  Kurdistan  as  far  as  Central  Asia.  It 

is  perennial  and  has 
an  articulate  rachis, 
both  of  whic'h  char- 
acteristics are  lost 
in  culture.  How- 
ever, rye  stubble,  if 
it  stands  a  long  time 
in  the  field,  will 
sprout  again,  a  thing 
that  never  happens 
with  wheat  and  bar- 
ley because  their 
original  forms  are 
annual.  At  present 
it  is  mainly  culti- 
vated in  northern 
Europe  (to  69£° 
north  latitude),  and 
also  in  North  Amer- 
ica. It  is  the  chief 
cereal  of  the  Ger- 
man and  Slavonic 
nations.  Its  varia- 
tions are  unimport- 
ant. The  fruit  fur- 
nishes the  well- 
known  black  flour 
used  in  making  bread.  In  the  green  state  rye  forms  a 
nourishing  fodder.  The  straw  is  prized  on  account  of 
its  length  ;  it  is  useful  for  making  hats,  and  in  the  manu- 
facture of  paper.  The  bran  is  used  for  cattle-feed,  for 
poultices,  etc.,  and  the  grain  for  the  distillery.*  Its 
culture  in  Europe  is  not  so  old  as  that  of  the  other  cere- 
als. It  was  unknown  to  the  people  of  Western  Europe 

*  For  the  details  on  cereals  see  KOrnicke  and  Werner,  "  Handbuch 
des  Getreidebaus  "  (Bonn,  1885),  upon  which  are  based  many  of  the 
statements  here  given, 


FIG.  93.— Secale  cereale  L.  A,  Spike  (after  Mull- 
Guyot).  Kl,  Fruit  from  the  front;  K2,  from  the 
side;  K3,  in  cross-section.  (After  Nees,  Gen. 
Germ.  81.) 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA. 


179 


in  the  earliest  prehistoric  times,  and  appeared  in  Eastern 
Europe  in  the  bronze  age,  as  is  proven  especially  by 
the  remains  found  at  Olmiitz.  The  people  of  Eastern 
Europe  probably  received  it  from  the  natives  of  Southern 
Russia  and  Western  Asia,  who  probably  were  the  first 
to  cultivate  the  plants  which  grew  wild  among  them. 

285.  (268)  Triticum  L.  Spikes  with  a  (rarely  aborted) 
terminal  spikelet ;  rachis  articulate  (cultivated  forms  ex- 
cepted) ;  lowest  1-4  spikelets  smaller  than  the  others, 
awnless,  sterile  (occasionally  fertile  in  the  cultivated 


FIG.  94.— Triticum  triunciale  Gren.  and  Go- 
dron.    (After  Nees,  Gen.  Germ.,  I.  85.) 


EL     V 

FIG.  95. — Triticum  sativum  Lam.  C, 
Empty  glume  from  the  side;  CX, 
from  the  back.  K 1,  Fruit  from  in 
front:  K2.  from  the  back.  R,  Rachis. 
(After  Nees,  Gen.  Germ.,  I.  79.) 


forms).  Fertile  spikelets  inflated  or  somewhat  ventri- 
cose,  2-5-flowered,  ripening  only  1-3  fruits.  Spikelets, 
especially  the  lowest,  closely  imbricated  ;  empty  glumes 
broad,  always  with  one  to  many  awns,  or  at  least  with  a 


180  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

bluut  or  toothed  apex  ;  flowering  glumes  rounded  on  the 
back,  often  navicular,  many-nerved,  ending  in  -one  to 
several  teeth  or  awns ;  fruit  very  slightly  compressed 
laterally,  deeply  sulcate,  hairy  at  the  apex,  free.  Em- 
bryo with  epiblast  and  three  rootlets.  Always  annual. 

Two  illy  denned  sections  : 

Sec.  I.  JEgilops  L.  (as  a  genus).  Empty  glumes  flat 
or  rounded  on  the  back,  not  at  all,  or  indistinctly, 
keeled. 

Species  twelve,  in  Southern  Europe  and  the  Orient 
to  Afghanistan  and  Turkestan.  JE,  ovata  L.  with  3-5 
awns  on  the  empty  glumes,  JE.  triuncialis  (Fig.  94),  three 
awns,  etc.,  in  Southern  Europe ;  the  former  forms  a  cross 
with  T.  sativum.  The  spikes  fall  off  as  a  whole,  separat- 
ing below  the  lowest  fertile  spikelet ;  the  empty  glumes 
of  several  Oriental  species  are  one-awned  or  awnless  and 
the  spikelets  fall  off  singly.  These  form  transitions  to 
the  following  section. 

Sec.  II.  Sitopyros.  Empty  glumes  sharply  keeled. 
To  this  section  belong  the  most  important  grains.  They 
can  be  traced  back  to  three  species. 

a.  Terminal    spikelet    aborted,  often    scarcely    visible. 
Palea   falling   into  two   parts  at  maturity.     Lateral 
teeth  of  empty  glumes  acute.     .     1.  Tr.  monococcum. 

b.  Terminal  spikelets  developed ;   palea  remaining  en- 
tire ;  lateral  teeth  of  the  empty  glumes  obtuse. 

a.  Empty  glumes  shorter  than  any  of  the  flowering 
glumes,  chartaceous;  palea  as  long  as  flowering 

glumes 2.   Tr.  sativum. 

ft.  Empty  glumes  as  long  as  or  longer  than  any  of  the 
flowering  glumes,  chartaceous,  lanceolate ;  palea 
of  the  lowest  flower  half  as  long  as  its  glume. 

3.  Tr.  Polonicum. 

1.  Tr.  monococcum  L.  (Fig.  103).  Spikes  compact, 
articulate,  joints  readily  separating  (even  in  cul- 
tivated forms),  every  spikelet  with  one  awn  ; 
usually  only  the  lower,  very  rarely  also  the 
upper,  flowers  maturing  their  fruit.  The  wild 
plants  (Tr.  Bceboticum  Boiss.,  Crithodivm  a'cjilo- 
poides  Link)  scarcely  distinguished  from  the 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA.          181 

cultivated  as  varieties.  They  grow  from  Achaia 
through  Thessaly  (where  they  cover  entire  hills), 
Servia,  Asia  Minor,  the  Crimea,  and  Caucasian 
countries  to  Mesopotamia.  This  species  is 
mostly  cultivated  in  Spain,  only  rarely  in  France, 
Germany  (especially  in  Wiirtemberg  and  Thurin- 
gia),  and  Switzerland,  and  upon  poor  and  rough 
places  that  are  not  suited  for  other  varieties  of 
wheat.  The  finding  of  its  fruit  in  the  Lake 
dwellings  belonging  to  the  Stone  age  of  Switzer- 
land and  Hungary,  as  well  as  at  Hissarlik  (Troy, 
according  to  Schliemann),  proves  its  great  an- 
tiquity. It  is  not  so  often  used  for  bread  as  for 
mush  and  "  cracked  wheat,"  and  as  fodder  for 
cattle.  It  varies  but  little. 

2.  Tr.  sativum  Lam.  (in  a  wider  sense),  Wheat 
(Figs.  95-102),  original  form  unknown.  Many 
races  and  varieties  produced  by  culture,  of  which 
those  with  the  rachis  articulate  are  probably 
most  closely  related  to  the  original  form.  The 
brittleness  of  the  rachis  exists,  however,  in  dif- 
ferent degrees  and  is  correlated  with  the  more  or 
less  firm  closing  of  the  fruiting  glumes.  Three 
races  : 

I.  Bachis  articulate  at  maturity  ;  grain  entirely 
enclosed  by  the  glumes,  not  falling  out 
when  thrashed  (however,  it  is  not  grown  to 
the  glumes). 

1°.  Spikes  loose,  almost  four-sided  when 
seen  from  above;  empty  glumes 
broadly  truncate  in  front,  with  a 
very  short,  obtuse  middle  tooth,  ob- 
tusely keeled.  .  a.  Tr.  sat.  Spelta. 
2°.  Spikes  very  dense,  laterally  com- 
pressed ;  empty  glumes  tapering, 
with  an  acute  middle  tooth  ;  sharply 
keeled.  .  b.  Tr.  sat.  dicoccum. 

II.  Bachis  not  articulated  at  maturity ;  grain 
visible  between  the  somewhat  open  fruiting 
glumes,  easily  falling  out.  c.  Tr.  sat.  termx. 


182  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

a.  Tr.  sat.  Spelta  (Tr.  Spelta  L.),  Spelt*  (Fig.  101). 
There  are  awned  and  awnless,  hairy  and  smooth- 
spiked,  white,  gray-blue,  and    reddish    varieties. 
One  of  the  oldest  grains.     It  was  anciently  the 
chief  grain  in  Egypt  and  Greece,  and  was  culti- 
vated everywhere  throughout  the  Roman  Empire 
and  distributed  through  its  colonies.     Its  culture 
has  continually  decreased  until,  at  present,  it  has 
disappeared  from  Egypt  and  Greece,  and  has  be- 
come very  rare  in  Italy  and  France ;  and  even  in 
S.  Germany  and  Switzerland,  where  it  is  still  the 
most  cultivated,  it  is  continually  becoming  rarer. 
It  is  yet  important  in  N.  Spain.     The  winter  beard- 
less Spelt,  a  white-spiked,  awnless  variety,  is  the 
most  profitable.     Spelt  possesses  undoubted  ad- 
vantage over  the  naked  wheats  only  when  grown 
upon  poor  soil,  in  small  fields  and  with  moderate 
culture  ;  its  demands  are  less,  it  is  more  certain, 
liable  to  fewer  diseases,  and  not  at  all  subject  to 
the  attacks  of  birds.     Upon  better  soil  and  with 
reasonable  cultivation  the  returns  are  better  from 
common  wheat. 

b.  Tr.  sat.  dicoccum  ( Tr.  dicoccum  Schrank)  (Fig.  102). 
Always  awned  ;  spikes  broader  on  the  two-ranked 
side,  narrower  on  the  imbricated  one.     Cultivated 
from  the  most  ancient  times  (Lake  dwellings  of 
Robenhausen),   but   always   more  sparingly  than 
Spelt,  and  at  present  only  in  S.  Germany,  Switzer- 
land, Spain,  Servia,  and  Italy.     It  is   a   summer 
grain,  and  is  used  mainly  as  mush  and  for  making 
starch.     The  best  kind  is  the  so-called  Bice-spelt 
(Beisdinkd). 

c.  Tr.  sat.  tenax.     This  falls  into  four  poorly  charac- 
terized sub-races  which  in  many  characters  over- 
lap, and  each  of  which,  in  turn,  possesses  numerous 
varieties,  according  to  the  awns,  hairiness,  and  color 
of  the  spikes. 


*  The  illustrations  of  the  spikes  of  the  Cereals  are  taken  from  the 
works  of  Mull-Guyot  in  the  "  Encyclopedic  d 'Agriculture. " 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND   GENERA. 


183 


1°.  Empty  glumes  distinctly  keeled  only  in  the 
upper  half,  rounded  or  only  slightly  keeled 
in  the  lower  half. 

*  Spikes  long,  more  or  less  loose,  some- 
what dorsally  compressed. 

a.   Tr.  sat.  vulgare. 

**  Spike    short,    dense,    distinctly    four- 
sided.      .     .     .     ft.   Tr.  sat.  compactum. 
2°.  Empty  glumes  sharply  keeled  at  the  base. 

*  Fruit    short,    thick,    not    compressed, 
broadly  truncate  above. 

y.   Tr.  sat.  turgidum. 

**  Fruit  oblong,  narrower,  somewhat  lat- 
erally compressed,  and  somewhat  acu- 
minate  3.  Tr.  sat.  durum. 

Tr.  sat.  vulgare  (Tr.  vulgare  Vill.),  common 
wheat  (Figs.  96, 
97).  The  princi- 
pal sub-varie- 
ties are  awnless 
and  bearded 
(awned)  wheats, 
with  naked  or 
hairy,  whitish, 
bluish,  black- 
ish, or  reddish 
spikes.  It  has 
been  known 
from  most  an- 
cient times 
(grains  found  in 
Egyptian  Pyra- 
mids) ;  is  gener- 
ally cultivated 
as  far  north  as 
its  cultivation  is 
possible  (Nor- 
way, 69°  N.  Lat., 
Alps  at  1400 
metres  altitude),  and  its  culture  is  very  import- 


FIG.%.— Common  Bearded  FIG.  97.— 2V. 
Winter  Wheat.  Triti-  sativumvul- 
cum  sativum  vulgare.  gave  muti- 

cum. 


184 


THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 


ant  in  N.  America  ;  in  Chili  only  in  S.  America. 
The  most  valuable  German,  American,  and 
Hungarian  kinds  belong  to  this  variety.  It  is 
cultivated  either  as  a  summer  or  winter  grain. 
Tr.  sat.  compactum  (Tr.  compactum  Host.), 
" Dwarf  Wheat,"  "  Hedgehog  Wheat."  Spikes 
3-4  times  longer  than  broad,  awned  or  awn- 
less  ;  culms  and  spikes  very  rigidly  upright. 
A  very  old  cultivated  form  (Lake  dwellings  of 
Robenhausen ! )  at  present  mainly  cultivated 
in  the  Austrian  Alps,  Wiirtemberg,  Alsace, 
Switzerland,  Chili,  and  Turkestan.  The  awned 
kinds  are  call- 
ed " Hedgehog 
Wheat."  The 
Abyssinian 
"  Dwarf  Wheat" 
forms  a  special 
group.  On  ac- 
count of  their 
stiff  culms  the 
dwarf  wheats 
are  less  liable  to 
lodge.  Certain 
kinds,  like  the 
yellow  winter 
Hedgehog  wheat, 
are  peculiarly 
adapted  to  rough 
and  stormy  re- 
gions. The  yel- 
low summer 
Hedgehog  wheat 
is  also  profitable 
on  poor  soils. 
Tr.  sat.  turgidum 
(  Tr.  turgidum  L.)  FIG  98  - 
(Fig.98),  English  JJS& 
wheat.  Culms  ( 
tall,  thickish,  stiff  and 


FIG.    99.— Flint   wheat. 
Tr.  sativum  durum. 


upright,   with   large, 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA. 


185 


thick,  and  dense  four-sided  spikes ;  leaves 
broader  than  in  T.  vulgare,  and  usually  clothed 
with  velvety  hairs.  It  is  especially  cultivated 
in  the  Mediterranean  countries,  more  rarely  in 
England  and  Germany.  The  English  wheat 
yields  very  good  harvests,  but  its  flour  is  poor 
in  gluten  and  usually 
grayish  ;  it  is  therefore 
less  adapted  to  cook- 
ing, and  prized  less.  In 
Germany  most  kinds 
are  not  sufficiently 
hardy  to  winter  well. 

The  Miracle  wheats 
(  "  Egyptian  "  wheats) 
(Tr.  compositum  L.)  are 
formed  by  a  special 
group  of  varieties,  with 
branched  spikes.  Orig- 
inally a  sport,they  have 
become  strongly  hered- 
itary. Their  culture 
is  not  profitable,  for 
the  grains  are.  very  un- 
equally developed. 

6.  Tr.  sat.  durum  (Tr. 
durum  Desf.),  Hard  or 
Flint  wheat  (Fig.  99). 
Recognizable  b}^  its 
long,  bristling  awns. 
Culm  often  filled  with 
pith  or  solid  ;  fruit  very 
hard,  usually  vitreous, 
rarely  mealy.  Cultivated  in  the  Mediterranean 
countries,  the  most  important  grain  in  Spain, 
and  also  predominating  in  N.  Africa.  Of 
scarcely  any  importance  in  Germany.  Several 
varieties  have  coal-black  awns. 

3.   Tr.  Polonicum  L.,  Polish  wheat  (Fig.  100).     A 
very  striking   species  with  large,  compressed, 


?IG.  100.— Polish  FIG.  101  .--Bearded 
Wheat,  Tr.  Po-  Spelt.  Tr.  sati- 
lonicum.  vum  Spelta. 


186 


THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 


mostly  blue-green  spikes.  Spikelets  appearing 
as  if  cut  off  transversely  because  the  third  and 
fourth  flowers  scarcely  reach  to  the  point  of  the 
two  lower  ones ;  flowering  glumes  compressed, 
navicular,  many -nerved,  awned  ;  fruit  8-12  mm. 
long.  Original  form  unknown ;  perhaps  not  a 
true  species  ;  it  may  have  originated  by  culture. 
It  gives  rise,  but  rarely,  to  a  fertile  cross  with 
Tr.  sativum ;  while 
the  crossing  of  the 
sativum  races  among 
each  other  is  per- 
fectly fertile,  that  of 
the  monococcum  with 
the  sativum  races  is 
entirely  infertile . 
Poland  is  by  no 
means  its  native 
country ;  more  likely 
it  originated  in  Spain, 
where  it  is  now  cul- 
tivated on  a  large 
scale  in  Leon,  Old 
Castile,  and  the  Ba- 
learic Isles.  It  is 
also  still  cultivated 
in  Italy  and  Abys- 
sinia, but  in  other 
places  its  culture,  if 
it  ever  existed,  has  FIG.  102 
disappeared.  The 
long  and  slender 
fruit  resembles  rye,  but  is  on  the  whole  larger, 
and  under  the  name  of  "  Giant  Kye "  it  has 
sometimes  been  fraudulently  sold  to  farmers. 
The  returns  are  poor  on  account  of  its  having 
few  kernels. 

Wheat  flour  furnishes  the  best  and  whitest 
bread,  yet  not  all  wheat  is  alike  adapted  for 
bread-making,  since  for  this  purpose  a  sufficient 


-  "  Ger-  Fio.103.— Oue-grain- 

man"      Wheat.  ed    Wheat.       Tr. 

Tr.  sativum  di-  monococcum  L. 
coccum. 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA.          187 

amount  of  gluten,  such  as  is  found  in  the  half 
hard  and  half  soft  kinds,  is  indispensable. 
Pronounced  soft  wheats,  like  the  English, 
especially  those  grown  in  a  moist  climate,  need 
the  addition  of  flour  of  the  hard-fruited  races 
before  baking.  By  themselves  alone  they  are 
better  adapted  for  starch-making.  The  espe- 
cially hard  wheats  are  over-rich  in  gluten,  and 
the  food  baked  from  them  is  therefore  too  firm. 
They  are  accordingly  used  for  macaroni  and 
for  making  cracked  wheat  and  mush.  The 
straw  is  shorter  than  that  of  rye  ;  an  especially 
short  and  delicate- stalked  kind  is  produced  in 
Tuscany  by  thick  sowing  on  poor  soil,  and  used 
for  making  Florentine  hats. 

286.  Heteranthelium  Hochst.     An  annual  grass,  with 
spikes    having  many    bristles.     Empty  glumes   bristle- 
like,  with  hairs  arranged  like  the  barbs  of  a  feather. 
Flowering    glumes    warty    and  with  awl-shaped   awns. 
Above  the  two  fertile  flowers  is  a  pedicel  with  a  tuft  of 
sterile,  subulate  or  awn-like  glumes. 

Species  one  (H.  piliferum  Hochst.),  in  the  Orient. 

SUB-TRIBE  E. — Elymeae. 

Spikelets  2-6  on  each  notch  of  the  rachis,  forming  a  branching  system  in 
which  one  spikelet  (the  middle  one)  represents  the  primary,  and  the 
lateral  spikelets  the  secondary  and  tertiary  branches.  Rarely  the 
primary  branch  is  aborted  and  the  secondary  ones  only  are  present. 
The  terminal  spikelet  when  present  has  both  empty  glumes  together 
with  the  flowering  glumes  in  its  median  lines.  In  the  lateral  spike- 
lets,  on  the  contrary,  they  are  thrown  out  of  this  line  and  occupy 
the  place  that  is  left  to  them  from  the  crowding  together  of  the 
spikelets;  that  is,  they  usually  stand  close  together  in  twos  in  front 
of  each  spikelet,  and  therefore  often  apparently  decussate  with  the 
median  line  of  the  spike.  Stamens  three. 

287.  (274)  HordeumL.    Empty  glumes  narrow,  usually 
subulate,  all  together  forming  a  kind  of  involucre  around 
the  spikelet ;  flowering  glumes  in  the  median  line  of  the 
rachis  (as  in  Lolium)  five-nerved,  extending  into  a  strong 
awn ;  grain  usually  adherent  to  the  glume,  hairy  at  the 
apex,  usually  sulcate,  without  epiblast. 


188 


THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 


Species  about  sixteen,  in  Europe,  temperate  Asia, 
North  Africa,  and  North  and  South  America. 

Sub-genus  I.  Zeocriton  Beauv.  (as  a  genus)  ( Criterion 
Rafin.).  Rachis  (cultivated  forms  excepted)  articulate, 
each  joint  falling  off  with  the  group  of  spikelets  attached 
above  it.  The  middle  spikelet  fertile,  the  lateral  ones 


FIG.  104.  —  Two  FIG.  105.— Hordeum  sativum  hexnsti-  FIG.  106.— Common  4- 

ranked  barley.  chon.  B 3.  Group  of  three  spikelets.  rowed  barley.  Hor- 

Hordeum  sati-  B,  a  spikelet  from  behind;  B\,  from  deum  sativum  vul- 

vum  distichon.  in  front.  Kl,  Fruit  from  in  front;  pore. 

#2,  from  behind.    (After  Nees,  Gen. 

Germ.,  I.  83.) 

mostly  short-pedicellate,  rarely  sessile,  sterile  (fertile 
only  in  cultivated  forms) ;  terminal  spikelet  aborted ; 
fruiting  glumes  persistent  on  the  pedicels. 

Species  twelve,  among  which  are  H.  murinum  L.,  with 
pedicellate  lateral  spikelets,  a  widespread  weed;  H. 
sativum  Jesseu,  Cultivated  Barley,  with  sessile  lateral 


DESCBIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA.          189 

spikelets,  and  empty  glumes  obtuse.  This  undoubtedly 
originated  from  H.  spontaneum  C.  Koch,  which  grows  wild 
from  Asia  Minor  and  Caucasian  countries  to  Persia  and 
Beloochistan,  as  well  as  in  Syria,  Palestine,  and  Arabia 
Petrsea.  The  two-rowed,  cultivated  barley  is  distin- 
guished from  it  only  by  the  character  due  to  cultivation — 
viz.,  the  non-articulate  axis  and  somewhat  shorter  awns. 
Sub-species  (Races) : 

a.  All  spikelets  fertile,  therefore  six  rows  of  fruit. 
a.  The  six  rows  distinctly  separated. 

b.  H.  sat.  hexastichon. 

ft.  Only  the  middle  rows  distinctly  separated, 
the  side  rows  overlapping. 

c.  H.  sat.  vidgare. 

b.  Only  the  middle  spikelet   of   each   cluster  of 
three  fertile a.  H.  sat.  distichon. 

a.  H.  sat.  distichon  (H.  distichon  L.),  two-rowed  Barley 
(Fig.  104).     Spikes  strongly  compressed  laterally, 
the  sterile  lateral  spikelets  appressed  to  the  rachis, 
with  or  without  stamens.     Falls  into  numerous  va- 
rieties, the  most  important  of  which  are  : 

a.  nutans.  Lateral  spikelets  distinct,  spikes 
usually  uniform  in  width,  awns  appressed  to 
the  spike ;  spike  loose,  narrow,  usually  nodding. 

ft.  erectum.    Like  a,  but  with  broad,  upright  spikes. 

y.  Zeocriton,  "Peacock  Barley,"  "  Rice  Barley." 
Like  ft,  but  the  spikes  tapering  toward  the  end, 
and  the  awns  diverging. 

6.  macrolepis,  with  aborted  lateral  spikelets  and 
broad,  empty  glumes  in  the  middle  spikelet. 

e.  deficiens.     Like  6,  but  the  empty  glumes  narrow. 

Besides  these  there  is  one  variety  with  naked 

fruit  (H.  nudum  L.),  and  several  sub-varieties 

distinguished  only  by  the  pale  yellow  or  black 

color  of  the  spikes. 

The  two-rowed  barley  is  cultivated  espe- 
cially in  Central  Europe  (in  Switzerland  as  far 
as  2000  metres  above  the  sea)  and  England,  and 
the  varieties  d  and  e  in  Abyssinia. 

b.  H.  sat.  hexastichon  (H.  hexastichon   L.),  six-rowed 


190  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

barley  (Fig.  105).  Spikes  roundish  in  circumfer- 
ence ;  all  six  rows  diverging  uniformly  and  forming 
a  six-rayed  star  when  viewed  from  above  ;  joints  of 
rachis  very  short,  therefore  the  spikelets  are  closely 
imbricated.  Very  widespread,  even  in  prehistoric 
times  (Lake  dwellings),  but  at  present  it  is  culti- 
vated only  in  Southern  Europe,  rarely  in  Switzer- 
land and  in  Germany. 

c.  H.  sat.  vidgare  (H.  vulgare  L.),  irregularly  ranked  or 
four-rowed  barley  (Fig.  106).  Spikes  dorsally  com- 
pressed ;  the  middle  row  more  appressed  to  the 
rachis  than  the  irregular  rows  of  the  lateral  spike- 
lets  ;  spikes  loose,  often  nodding.  This  race  seems 
to  be  of  later  origin.  Its  variety  pallidum  (with 
pale  yellow  spikes)  is  the  barley  most  frequently 
cultivated  in  Northern  Europe  (Norway  to  78°)  and 
Northern  Asia.  It  is  usually  raised  as  a  summer 
grain,  and  its  period  of  vegetation  may  be  limited 
to  ninety  days.  In  Central  Europe,  where  its  cul- 
ture was  earlier  introduced,  it  is  becoming  gradu- 
ally supplanted  by  the  two-rowed,  and  especially 
by  the  Chevalier  barley.  The  greater  amount  of 
gluten  which  it  contains  makes  it  less  adapted  for 
beer-brewing ;  besides,  on  good  soil  the  produce 
of  the  two-rowed  is  greater  than  that  of  the  four- 
rowed,  while  the  latter  surpasses  it  on  poor  land. 
The  variety  ccerulescens,  with  the  gray  spikes,  is 
more  frequently  cultivated  in  Southern  Europe 
and  Northern  Africa.  A  special  series  of  varieties 
is  formed  by  the  naked-fruited  barleys  (H.  cceleste 
L.)  as  well  as  the  Himalaya  barleys,  among  which 
is  the  remarkable  hereditary  malformation  (H. 
trifurcatum)  with  three-horned  flowering  glumes. 
Between  the  four-rowed,  six-rowed,  and  two-rowed 
barleys  are  transition  stages  (e.g.,  var.  intermedium 
Korn,  and  H.  Kaufmanni  Hegel),  in  which  all  the 
spikelets  are  fertile  but  the  lateral  ones  are  awn- 
less.  These  are  spontaneous  variations  and  not 
crosses,  for  the  majority  of  barleys,  especially  the 
six- rowed,  bear  cleistogamic  flowers,  so  that  a  cross 
in  the  open  air  is  impossible. 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA. 


191 


How  barley  was  used  in  ancient  and  in  prehistoric 
times  is  uncertain.  At  present  it  forms  the  most  impor- 
tant cereal  of  the  far  North.  In  Central  Europe  it  is  used 
only  for  brewing  beer  and  for  soup,  and  in  South  Europe 
mainly  as  food  for  horses.  It  is  used  for  bread  also  in 
Asia,  especially  in  Thibet,  and  in  North  China  and  Japan. 
North  America  produces  considerable  quantities  of  it; 
South  America,  on  the  contrary,  very  little.  A  mucilag- 
inous tea,  used  as  a  medicine,  is  made  from  the  naked 
barley  (officinally  known  as  "  Hordeum  decorticatum "). 
Malt  and  the  extract  of  malt  are  also  medicines. 

Sub-genus  II.  Crithopsis  Jaubert  (as  a  genus).  Eachis* 
articulated  ;  spikelets  in  twos,  sessile,  fertile  ;  fruit  persis- 
tent ;  apical  spikelet  with  four  decussating  empty  glumes, 
two  of  which  are  in  the  median  line  of  the  flowering  glume. 

Species  one  (E.  Delileanus  Schult.),  in 
the  Orient. 

Sub-genus  III.  Cuviera  Kol.  (as  a 
genus).  Eachis  continuous  ;  spikelets  in 
twos  or  threes,  all  fertile  ;  fruiting  glumes 
falling  off  from  a  distinct  pedicel ;  apical 
spikelet  with  two  opposite  empty  glumes 
in  the  median  line  of  the  flowering  glume. 

Species  three  (H.  sylvaticum,  H.  cri- 
nitum,  H.  Caput-Medusce),  in  Europe  and 
the  Orient. 

288.  (275)ElymusL.(Fig.  107).  Eachis 
usually  continuous ;  terminal  spikelet 
with  two  empty  glumes  lying  in  the 
median  line  of  the  flowering  glume, 
one  of  them  frequently  aborted ;  lateral 
spikelets  in  groups  of  from  two  to  six,  all 
fertile  ;  fruiting  glumes  falling  off  with  a 
joint  of  the  rachilla ;  empty  glumes  nar- 
row-linear, short-awned  or  awn-like ; 
flowering  glumes  somewhat  shorter, 
oblong  or  lanceolate,  not  keeled,  five-  Fl(, 
nerved,  awnless  or  awned ;  fruit  ad-  Jgg 
herent. 

Species  about  thirty,  throughout  all  temperate  coun- 


192  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

tries  excepting  Australia  and  South  Africa.  Tall,  rigid, 
perennial  grasses. 

Sec.  I.  Sitanion  Kafin.  (as  a  genus)  (Polyantherix 
Nees).  Bachis  articulate ;  empty  glumes  usually  two- 
to  many-cleft,  long-awned. 

Sec.  II.  Clindymus.  Bachis  continuous  ;  empty  and 
flowering  glumes  awned. 

Sec.  III.  Psammdymus.  Like  Sec.  II,  but  the  empty 
and  flowering  glumes  awnless.  To  this  section  belongs 
E.  arenarius  L.,  which  has  long,  creeping  rhizomes,  stiff 
leaves,  elongated  ligules,  and  more  downy  flowering 
glumes.  On  the  banks  of  the  North  and  Baltic  Seas, 
rarely  inland,  thence  extending  through  Russia  and 
North  Asia  to  North  America.  Very  well  adapted  to 
binding  drifting  sands,  and  often  planted  for  this  pur- 
pose. In  Iceland  bread  is  made  from  the  fruit. 

289.  (276)  AsprellaW.  (Hystrix  Munch,  Gymnostichum 
Schreb.).     Like    the    preceding,  but  the   spikelets   are 
usually  in  pairs  on  short  pedicels  ;  empty  glumes  want- 
ing or  appearing  as  simple  rudiments  in  the  lowest  spike- 
lets  of  each  spike. 

Species  four,  two  in  N.  America  [(A.  Hystrix  Willd. 
and  A.  Californica  Beuth.)],  one  in  Siberia,  and  one  in 
New  Zealand. 

SUB-TRIBE  F.— Parianeae. 

Spikelets  usually  iu  sixes  at  each  joint  of  the  rachis,  forming  a  false 
whorl  which  consists  of  two  opposite  groups  of  three;  in  one  the 
middle  spikelet  (primary  branch)  is  $  and  iu  the  other  &  ;  all  the 
lateral  spikelets  are  $  on  broad  pedicels  which  are  grown  together; 
empty  glumes  (apparently)  decussate  with  the  flowering  ones.  The 
2  spikelet  stands  farther  in.  The  terminal  spikelet  is  solitary, 
large,  $ ,  with  opposite  empty  glumes  in  the  median  line  of  the 
flowering  glumes.  All  the  spikelets  are  awnless.  Stamens  10-40  in 
each  *  flower.  Fruit  as  in  Triticce. 

290.  (31)  Pariana  Aubl.     Grasses  with  broad,  some- 
what petiolate  leaves.     The  $  spikelets  form  an  invo- 
lucre around  the  $  and  fall  away  with  it. 

Species  ten,  in  tropical  South  America.  Eremitis 
Doll,  appears  to  be  a  species  of  this  genus  whose  flowers 
are  aborted,  having  only  one  stamen  in  each  $  flower. 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA.          193 


TRIBE  XII.—  BAMBTTSE.E.* 

Spikelets  2-8-,  rarely  only  one-flowered,  in  panicles  or 
racemes,  mostly  arranged  in  tufts  or  false  whorls  at  the 
nodes  of  the  branches  of  the  panicle.  Empty  glumes 
two  to  several,  increasing  in  size  upwards,  shorter  than 
the  succeeding  flowering  glumes ;  buds  developing  into 
spikelets  sometimes  appear  in  axils  of  the  lowest  empty 
glumes  ;  flowering  glumes  many-nerved,  awnless,  or  rarely 
with  short,  straight,  terminal  awns  ;  palea  two-  to  many- 
nerved,  rarely  nerveless ;  scales  or  lodicules  usually 
three,  remarkably  large,  rarely  fewer  or  wanting ; 
stamens  3-6  to  many ;  styles  2-3,  often  grown  together 
at  the  base ;  fruit  free ;  leaves  usually  articulated  with 
the  sheath. 

[Large,  often  tree-like,  perennial  grasses  with  woody, 
rarely  herbaceous,  culms.  The  largest  species  are  30 
cm.  in  diameter  and  40  m.  high.  The  rhizome  lasts 
many  years,  and  in  most  species  consists  of  numerous 
short,  entwined  branches  which  send  up  numerous 
densely-crowded  culms  forming  clumps.  Bamboo  for- 
ests of  these  species  consist  of  such  giant  bushes  inter- 
mingled with  trees.  Other  species  (Bambusa  villosida 
Kurz.,  Mdocanna  bairibusoides  Trin.,  etc.)  do  not  form 
clumps,  but  the  culms,  standing  30-60  cm.  apart,  often 
cover  extended  areas  with  a  thick  forest-like  growth. 
In  yet  other  species,  for  example  those  of  PhyUostqchys, 
the  rhizome,  which  bears  larger  or  smaller  clumps,  sends 
out  long  creeping  branches  that  here  and  there  produce 
solitary  culms ;  these  are  upright,  the  outer  ones  in 
each  clump  bending  or  hanging  over.  Some  species 
are  climbers.  Branches  numerous,  usually  forming  a 
crowded  half-whorl  at  the  nodes ;  sometimes  all  the 
nodes  bear  branches,  sometimes  the  lower  part  of  the  culm 
is  naked,  in  the  upper  portions  the  branches  are  often 
single,  and  in  many  species  two-ranked;  the  culms  and 

*  The  portions  here  enclosed  in  brackets  were  written  especially  for 
the  original  by  Dr.  Brandis,  author  of  ' '  Forest-Flora  of  Northwest  and 
Central  India." 


194  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

branches  of  some  species  are  thorny  on  account  of  nu- 
merous hard  and  pointed  twigs  (aborted  branches) ;  a 
circle  of  secondary  roots,  which  occasionally  become 
thorn-like  when  they  do  not  reach  the  ground,  frequently 
occur  on  the  lower  culm-nodes  below  the  insertion  of 
the  branches  ;  the  leaf- blade  is  often  short,  usually  with 
a  short  petiole  and  jointed  at  the  base,  frequently  decid- 
uous ;  sheaths  often  fringed  at  the  throat ;  the  long  nerves 
of  the  blade  are  bound  together  in  many  species  by 
prominent  cross-nerves. 

After  the  ripening  of  the  seed,  the  ground  becomes 
covered  with  countless  young  plants  with  slender,  pliant 
stems,  and  a  thick  foliage,  resembling  a  meadow  of  wav- 
ing grasses.  This  growth  lasts  many  years,  until  the 
rhizomes  have  attained  their  full  size,  when  the  culms, 
some  of  which  have  been  formed  each  preceding  year, 
for  the  first  time  attain  their  full  height  and  thickness. 
In  the  tropics  a  number  of  young  culms  in  each  clump 
shoot  up  during  the  rainy  season,  often  attaining  their 
full  height  (even  to  40  m.)  in  from  40-60  days.  The  en- 
tire internodes  of  the  growing  culms,  and  the  lower  part 
only  of  those  which  are  full  grown,  are  surrounded  by 
large,  parchment-like  sheaths  which  are  frequently  cov- 
ered with  long  deciduous  hairs,  and  which  below  bear 
small  dry  membranaceous  blades  that  become  larger 
and  leaf-like  above.  In  this  condition  the  culms  have 
no  branches  and  are  soft,  but  they  become  lignified  to- 
wards the  end  of  the  first  year,  and  branches  and  leaves 
are  developed  at  the  same  time.  In  regard  to  flowering, 
we  may  distinguish  between  those  that  bloom  frequently 
and  those  which  rarely  flower. 

Many  species  (Arunctinaria  Wightiana  Nees,  upon  the 
Neilgherries,  species  of  Gucidua  and  Chiisqttea)  bloom  an- 
nually, and  the  panicle  is  terminal  on  the  leafy  branches. 
In  others  (Dendrocalamus  strictus  Nees),  single  culms  shed 
their  leaves  and  become  covered  with  panicles  of  flowers, 
while  others  again  retain  their  foliage.  Upon  these 
species,  which  are  of  frequent  occurrence  in  all  the  East 
Indies,  blooming  culms  may  consequently  be  found 
nearly  every  year.  In  other  species,  on  the  contrary, 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA.          195 

not  only  all  the  culms  of  a  clump  become  covered  with 
flowers  after  they  have  shed  their  leaves,  but  also  all  the 
clumps  of  the  same  kind  growing  in  the  same  country  or 
province.  Whole  bamboo  forests,  so  far  as  they  consist 
of  a  single  species,  may  be  seen  in  bloom  over  an  ex- 
tended area.  This  is  frequently  observed  in  Asia  as  well 
as  in  America.  In  the  East  Indies  the  seeds,  which  are 
rich  in  flour,  are  then  collected  and  cooked  like  rice,  and 
are  used  for  food  by  the  poorer  castes.  But  often,  in 
Brazil  as  well  as  the  Indies,  misfortune  follows  the  sud- 
den production  of  such  vast  quantities  of  mealy  seeds. 
It  is  the  cause  of  an  extraordinary  increase  of  mice  and 
rats,  which,  after  having  eaten  up  all  the  bamboo  fruits, 
turn  to  the  neighboring  fields,  devouring  the  crops  of 
whole  provinces.  The  German  colonies  in  Rio  Grande 
do  Sul  and  Sta.  Catarina  are  visited  by  these  pests  at 
intervals  of  about  thirteen  years. 

On  the  west  coast  of  the  East  Indian  Peninsula  the 
simultaneous  blooming  of  Bambusa  arundinacea  Eetz. 
has  been  observed  at  intervals  of  thirty-twro  years  (1804, 
1836,  1868).  These  and  other  facts  seem  to  indicate  that 
this  and  other  similarly  related  species  must  reach  a 
great  age  before  they  arrive  at  the  stage  of  flowering. 
Small  plants  grown  from  runners  and  cuttings  bloom  in 
these  cases  at  the  same  time  as  the  larger  growths  from 
which  the  cuttings  are  taken.  Simultaneous  flowering 
has  been  observed  in  many  species  cultivated  in  France 
and  Algiers.  Nevertheless  there  are  exceptions  to  this 
rule  also.  In  many  regions  of  the  East  Indies  Bambusa 
arundinacea  has  bloomed  several  times  in  other  than  the 
above-named  years,  and  in  all  cases  in  which  the  simul- 
taneous flowering  of  one  species  has  been  observed  over 
a  large  area,  there  were  straggling  blooming  plants  in 
the  year  following.  The  age  of  the  bushes  appears  to 
be  only  one  of  the  conditions  of  flowering ;  weather  and 
other  circumstances  also  exert  their  influences.  In  spe- 
cial years  Dendrocalamus  strictus  blooms  more  profusely 
than  at  other  times,  and  then  it  not  infrequently  happens 
that  all  or  nearly  all  the  culms  of  all  the  clumps  in  one 
region  bloom  simultaneously.  The  flowering,  leafless 


196  TUB  TRUE  GRASSES. 

culms  always  die  down  after  the  ripening  of  the  seed. 
When  all  the  culms  bear  flowers,  the  rhizomes,  whose  re- 
serve material  is  now  exhausted,  produce  only  weak  and 
slender  stems  for  a  long  time,  and  only  gradually  regain 
the  power  of  producing  culms  of  normal  height  and 
thickness.  The  rhizomes  become  weakened  in  a  like 
manner  if  all  or  many  of  the  culms  of  a  bamboo  clump 
are  cut  off.  In  this  case,  also,  only  slender  culms  are 
produced  for  a  series  of  years  until  their  strength  is  re- 
stored by  the  continued  activity  of  the  leaves.  In  green- 
houses, species  which  would  otherwise  form  high  bushes 
may  be  checked  in  their  development  and  kept  small  by 
cutting  out  many  or  all  of  the  shorter  shoots.  In  many 
cases  not  only  the  aerial  portions  die  after  flowering  and 
ripening  of  seed,  but  the  rhizomes  also,  and  a  renewal  of 
the  bamboo  forests  depends  entirely  upon  seedlings. 
The  preceding  will  explain  why  in  many  species  the  flow- 
ers and  fruit  have  not  yet  been  collected  and  described. 
In  the  forests  it  is  not  difficult  to  recognize  the  different 
species  by  the  manner  of  growth,  branching,  sheaths 
and  leaf-blades  of  the  younger  culms,  and  other  charac- 
teristics ;  but  without  flowers  it  is  only  rarely  possible 
to  determine  the  genus.  In  many  species,  therefore,  a 
reliable  division  into  genera  has  not  yet  been  possible.] 

Geographical  Distribution. — The  Bambusese  are  dis- 
tributed throughout  the  tropical  zone,  but  very  unevenly ; 
-a  few  species  have  penetrated  into  sub-tropical  and  even 
into  the  temperate  zones.  The  Monsoon  region  in  Asia 
is  rich  in  species  (over  one  hundred  and  fifty),  but  in 
Africa  there  are  very  few  (five  only  known  up  to  this 
time) ;  several  occur  in  Madagascar.  America  possesses 
about  seventy  species,  the  Pacific  Islands  a  few,  and 
North  Australia  two  ;  eleven  species  grow  in  Japan,  and 
but  one  on  the  Kurile  Islands.  In  the  Himalayas  they 
extend  to  an  altitude  of  3400  m.  above  sea  level,  and 
still  higher  in  the  Andes.  Here  the  species  of  Chv&quea 
form  impenetrable  thickets,  the  "  Carizales,"  covering 
wide  areas  within  the  tree  limits  ;  in  Ecuador  Chusquea 
aristata  Munro  reaches  the  snow-line.  Many  species 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA.          197 

seem  to  have  a  very  narrow  range,  and  there  are  only 
two  genera  common  to  both  hemispheres. 

Uses. — The  mere  enumeration  of  the  uses  of  the  Bam- 
buseae  would  fill  many  pages.  They  are  especially  in- 
dispensable to  the  inhabitants  of  India  and  Eastern 
Asia.  Their  uses  are  more  limited  in  South  America. 
In  building  houses  the  thicker  trunks  are  used  as  posts 
and  beams,  and  the  weaker  ones,  when  split,  for  filling 
up  the  walls  and  for  laying  the  floors.  [For  this  purpose 
they  are  split  longitudinally  and  then  pressed  out  flat. 
In  this  condition  they  consist  of  narrow  united  strips, 
forming  planks  which  may  be  90  cm.  broad.]  The  in- 
ternodes  cut  in  two  longitudinally  are  used  for  tiles. 
Bamboo  houses  are  durable,  graceful,  and,  because  they 
are  airy,  are  especially  healthful.  In  China  all  the 
theatres  are  built  of  bamboo.  Huts  for  temporary  resi- 
dents are  very  rapidly  constructed  from  them.  Both 
hanging  and  floating  bridges  of  bamboo  are  in  common 
use,  especially  in  the  Malayan  Archipelago.  Water 
conductors  are  constructed  either  by  cutting  the  stem 
in  halves  longitudinally,  or  by  breaking  through  the 
cross-walls  at  the  nodes.  Floats  made  from  bamboos 
are,  on  account  of  their  containing  air,  capable  of  carry- 
ing an  extraordinary  load,  and,  for  the  same  reason,  the 
outrigging  in  the  boats  of  the  Zeylanese  are  made  of 
bamboos.  Slender  culms  serve  for  poles  to  support  the 
betel-nut,  beans  and  other  climbing  cultivated  plants 
(they  are  even  imported  into  Europe  for  the  same  pur- 
pose), and  the  stronger  ones  for  palisades.  From  many 
species,  especially  the  thorny  ones,  impenetrable,  liv- 
ing hedges,  and  even  works  of  defence,  are  constructed. 
Almost  all  the  furniture  of  the  Malays,  Burmese,  etc., 
is  made  from  bamboos,  and  even  in  Europe  bamboo  is 
beginning  to  be  imported  for  the  manufacture  of  furni- 
ture. A  single  internode  of  a  large  species,  in  which 
both  separating  walls  have  been  left  and  only  one  bored 
through,  serves  for  a  water -pail  in  which  the  water  re- 
mains very  pure.  A  dozen  or  more  of  these  water- 
buckets  stand  in  every  Malayan  house.  While  still 
full  of  sap  these  internodes  are  even  used  as  cooking 


198  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

utensils.  Smaller  interuodes  furnish  pitchers,  flasks, 
and  cups  ;  and  wide  interuodes,  bee-hives.  They  are  in 
general  use  for  carrying-poles,  and  for  the  masts  of 
small  and  medium-sized  ships.  Some  species  supply 
walking-canes,  especially  the  culms  of  the  Japanese 
Phyllostuehys  and  Arundinaria.  The  slender  twigs  fur- 
nish pipe-stems,  purses,  knife-haudles,  etc.  Musical  in- 
struments (flutes)  are  easily  made  from  the  joints.  The 
"  Auklong"  of  the  Malays  consists  of  interuodes  of  dif- 
ferent thicknesses  arranged  according  to  their  tones, 
and  suspended  near  each  other,  and  which  are  made  to 
sound  by  striking.  The  Hying  culms  are  made  by  the 
Malays  into  ^Eolian  harps  by  piercing  them  at  certain 
distances  and  thus  allowing  the  air  to  pass  through 
them.  The  finely  split  bamboos  open  a  new  category  of 
uses.  [The  outer  green  rind  of  the  young  culms  is  split 
into  narrow  strips  or  ribbons,  and  made  into  baskets 
and  fine  braided  work ;  for  example,  Chinese  fans,  large 
and  small  boxes,  and  even  hats  and  jackets.]  If  the 
threads  are  boiled  in  lye  and  then  rolled  and  scraped, 
they  become  soft  enough  for  wearing  and  for  ropes. 
Coarse  mats  and  baskets  are  woven  from  split  bamboos. 
Bamboo  mats  laid  over  each  other  like  roofing-slate  are 
a  favorite  roofing  material  in  the  Malayan  Peninsula. 
The  Shans  and  other  inhabitants  of  the  Malayan  Penin- 
sula prepare  from  the  large  parchment-like  leaf-sheaths 
of  the  young  culms  broad-rimmed  hats  which  are  an 
excellent  protection  against  the  sun  and  rain.  Bam- 
boos are  especially  important  for  the  manufacture 
of  Chinese  paper,  of  which  it  forms  the  chief  ingre- 
dient. The  well-known  Chinese  umbrella  consists  of 
bamboo  paper  with  a  bamboo  handle  and  split  bamboo 
for  a  skeleton.  The  leaves  are  used  for  packing,  filling 
beds,  etc.  The  young  shoots  of  the  larger  species  are  a 
favorite  vegetable  with  the  Malays  and  Chinese,  and 
are  even  preserved  for  exportation.  Those  of  the  smaller 
species  are  eaten  in  China  like  asparagus  or  lettuce. 
The  importance  which  may  be  reached  by  the  fruit  of 
the  bamboos  has  already  been  explained.  The  crops 
produced  are  enormous  and  form  an  important  article  of 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA.         199 

commerce.  Abundant  and  good  drinking-water  collects 
in  the  hollows  of  the  internodes  of  many  large  species. 
In  those  of  others  (Bambusa  arundinacea  and  Mdocanna 
bambwoides)  are  formed  those  remarkable  silicic-acid 
concretions,  the  "  Tabasheer,"  that  are  still  playing  an 
important  part  in  the  superstitions  system  of  medicine 
among  the  Orientals.  Tabasheer  is  considered,  not 
merely  in  India  but  in  the  whole  Orient  and  in  China,  as 
a  medicine  of  the  highest  value  for  bilious  fever,  dysen- 
tery, jaundice,  leprosy,  and  lung  diseases,  as  well  as  an 
aphrodisiac.  As  early  as  the  times  of  the  Roman  Em- 
pire physicians  ascribed  medicinal  properties  to  it,  and 
it  attained  its  world-wide  fame  through  the  Arabian 
physicians  of  the  tenth  and  eleventh  centuries.  It  occurs 
in  commerce  in  two  forms,  the  crude  and  the  calcined. 
The  first,  in  a  fresh  uninjured  condition,  is  in  the  form 
of  a  more  or  less  perfect  cylinder  with  a  rounded  convex 
base,  1-3  cm.  in  diameter  and  1-4.5  cm.  long  (Fig.  108, 
B,  (7),  found  in  the  hollows  of  the  internodes  upon  one 
or  both  sides  of  the  cross-wall,  and  as  there  are  longi- 
tudinal furrows  in  the  outer  surface  corresponding  to 
the  course  of  the  fibro- vascular  bundles,  it  represents  an 
exact  cast  of  the  cavity  of  the  intern  ode.  It  is  translu- 
cent, gray,  yellowish,  bluish,  brownish,  or  blackish  in 
color  and  greasy  in  appearance,  and  covered  with  a 
chalky  coating.  In  warm,  dry  air  it  becomes  opaque 
and  finally  falls  into  little  pieces  or  fine  grains  like  sand. 
When  fresh  it  contains  58-62$  of  water  and  scarcely 
\%  of  organic  substance  ;  the  remainder  is  pure  silicic 
acid,  soluble  in  potassium  hydrate.  Calcined  Taba- 
sheer is  formed  by  heating  the  crude  substance  red-hot, 
in  consequence  of  which  it  is  transformed  into  irregular, 
milk-white,  opaque  or  bluish  opalescent,  concavo-convex 
pieces  having  an  earthy  taste.  The  origin  of  Tabasheer 
is  not  yet  thoroughly  explained ;  the  most  probable 
inference  is  that  at  the  time  of  most  rapid  growth 
great  quantities  of  water  are  conducted  into  the  bamboo 
steins  from  the  roots  and  collect  in  the  hollow  inter- 
nodes. The  silicic  acid  alkalies  that  are  dissolved  in  it 
probably  become  decomposed  by  carbonic  or  organic 


200  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

acids,  the  alkalies  thus  formed  are  re-absorbed  together 
with  the  water,  and  a  silicious  jelly  remains  which  hardens 
into  Tabasheer.  It  is  believed  that  the  accounts  of  the 
ancients  (Dioscorides,  Plinius)  which  speak  of  aaKxapov 
and  Saccharum  do  not  refer  to  sugar,  but  to  Tabasheer  : 
perhaps  the  accounts  of  the  two  are  confounded.  The 
name  comes  from  the  Sanskrit  (not  Persian)  word 
Tavakkshira,  meaning  milk  of  the  bark.  [The  present 
name  in  Bengal,  Hindostan  and  in  the  Dekkan  is  Baus- 
lochan,  Bans-kapur.*] 

Many  species  of  bamboo  are  highly  ornamental 
plants :  the  Chinese  and  Japanese  have  planted  them 
for  ages ;  and  in  Europe,  especially  in  the  South,  where 
many  can  be  kept  in  the  open  air,  as  well  as  in  the  green- 
houses of  the  North,  their  use  is  becoming  more  general 
and  frequent. 

A.  Stamens  three  ;  palea  two-keeled  ;  fruit  a  true  caryopsis 
(Arundinariece). 

a.  Spikelets  two-  to  many -flowered  (very  rarely  one- 
flowered — 'Phyttostachys). 

a.  Spikelets  with  no  Subtending  leaf. 

I.  Empty  glumes  1-2.  .     .     291.  Arundinaria. 

II.  Empty  glumes  3-4.     292.  Arthrostylidium. 
ft.  The  1-2  spikelets  surrounded  by  a  large  leaf  at 

their  base 293.  Phyllostachys. 

b.  Spikelets  one-flowered. 

a.  In  a  compact  globose  head.  294.  Athroostachys. 
ft.  In  a  one-sided  spike.  .  .  295.  Merostachys. 
y.  In  panicles. 

I.  Stem  woody,  leaves  jointed  at  the  base. 

296.  Chusquea. 
II.  Stem  herbaceous,  leaves  not  jointed. 

297.  Planotia. 

B.  Stamens  six,  fruit  a  true  caryopsis  with  a  delicate  peri- 
carp (Eitbambusew}. 

a.  Filaments  free. 

a.  Spikelets     one-flowered,    with     many    empty 
glumes 298.  Nastus. 

*  For  a  more  complete  account  of  Tabasheer,  see  Cohn's  "Beitr. 
z.  Biologie  d.  Pfl.,"vol.  4,  part  3,  and  "  Zeitschr.  d.  allg.  ost,  Apo- 
theker-Ver.,"  1887,  No.  9,  10  (by  Poleck). 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA.         201 

/?.  Spikelets  two-  to  many-flowered. 

I.  Palea  of  the  uppermost  flower  two-keeled  ; 
style  not  thickened  at  the  base  at  maturity, 
usually  falling  off.     .     .     .     299.  Bambusa. 
IL  Palea  of  the  uppermost  flower  and  flower- 
ing glume  one-keeled  ;    style  much  thick- 
ened at  the  base  at  maturity ;  fitting  over 
the  caryopsis  like  a  cap.  300.  Atractocarpa. 
b.  Filaments  grown  together,  forming  a  tube. 

a.  Spikelets  many-flowered,  palese  all  two-keeled. 

3O1.  Gigantochloa. 

/?.  Spikelets  one-  to  many-flowered,  but  only  the 
uppermost  flower  fertile,  and  this  with  a  one- 
keeled  palea. 

I.  Spikelets  elongated  conical,  round  in  cross- 
section 302.  Oxytenanthera. 

II.  Spikelets  ovate-lanceolate,  compressed. 

303.  Puelia. 

C.  Stamens  six  (very  rarely  more);  fruit  a  nut  (with  a 
thick,  free  paricarp)  or  berry. 
a.  Palese  two-keeled  (Dendrocalamece). 
a.  Spikelets  two-  to  many-flowered. 

I.  Ovary  hairy  at  the  apex  ;  fruit  a  small  nut. 
304.  Dendrocalamus. 
II.  Ovary  naked  ;  fruit  large,  fleshy  (?). 

305.  Melocalamus. 

ft.  Spikelets  one-flowered  with  a  prolongation  of 
the  rachilla  which  often  bears  an  upper  empty 
glume  ;  fruit  a  nut. 

I.  Spikelets  in  distant  clusters  or  spikes  on 
the  branches  of  the  panicle. 
1°.  Styles  three,  separate  to  the  base. 

308.  Greslania. 

2°.  Style  one,  very  long,  enclosed  in  a  tubu- 
lar beak  of  the  ovary,  with  2-3  stigmas. 
*  Nut  almost  globose,  depressed,  ab- 
ruptly beaked.  3O6.  Pseudostachyum. 
**  Nut    gradually    tapering    into    the 
beak.     .     .     .     307.  Teinostachyum. 
II.  Spikelets  in  one  to  several  globose  heads. 
309.  Cephalostachyum. 


202  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

b.  Palese  not  keeled,  resembling  the  flowering  glumes 
(therefore  considered  wanting  by  many)  (Melocan- 
nece). 
a.  Lodicules  0  ;  spikelets  very  small. 

311.  Dinochloa. 
ft.  Lodicules  2-3. 

I.  Fruit  a  small  nut ;  uppermost  flower  with 
a  prolongation  of  the  rachilla. 

310.  Schizostachyum. 

II.  Fruit    a    large    berry;     uppermost    flower 
without  a  prolongation  of  the  rachilla. 

312.  Melocanna. 

y.  Lodicules  very  numerous  (eight  or  more) ;  an- 
thers mostly  more  than  six.   .     313.  Ochlandra. 

SUB-TKIBE  A.—  Arundinarieae. 
Stamens  three. 

291.  (277)  Arundinaria  Michx.  (Miegia  Pers.,  Ludolfia 
Willd.,  Triglossum  Fisch.).  Spikelets  loose,  many-flow- 
ered, elongated,  panicled  or  racemed ;  empty  glumes 
small,  unequal,  the  first  occasionally  wanting ;  flowering 
glumes  not  keeled,  sometimes  short-awned  ;  styles  2-3, 
free  ;  fruit  rather  long,  furrowed.  Suffruticose  or  tall 
shrubs. 

Species  about  twenty-four,  in  America  and  Asia  (as 
far  east  as  Japan  and  on  the  Himalayas) ;  several  species 
in  Europe  as  ornamental  plants :  A.  Japonica  Sieb. 
(Bairibusa  Metake  and  B.  mitis  of  the  garden),  which  has 
strong,  transverse  nerves  in  the  leaves,  withstands,  un- 
protected, the  winters  of  France  and  South  England ;  A. 
falcata  Nees,  without  transverse  nerves,  is  from  the  Him- 
alayas ;  A.  macrosperma  Michx.  and  A.  tecta  Muhl.  occur 
in  N.  America  as  far  north  as  Maryland  and  Illinois. 
The  section  Thamnoccdamus  Muiiro  (as  a  genus)  is  distin- 
guished by  its  large,  deciduous,  spathiform  leaves  en- 
veloping the  spikelets  and  branches  of  the  panicle.  A. 
( Thamnocalarmis)  spathiflora  Eingall,  a  widespread  species 
in  N.W.  Himalayas  between  2500  to  3400  m.  above  sea 
level,  furnishes  pipe-stems  which  in  Northern  India  form 
an  important  article  of  commerce. 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA.          203 

292.  (278)  Arthrostylidium  Kupr.     Kachilla  articulate 
and  readily  separating  at  the  joints  ;  spikelets  in  racemes 
or  one-sided  spikes,  these  arranged  in  tufts  at  the  culm- 
nodes  ;  leaves  without  distinct  cross-veins.     Tall  shrubs 
and  climbers. 

Species  twelve,  in  tropical  America.  The  lowest 
culm-joint  of  A.  Schomburgkii  Munro,  which  way  be  5  m. 
long,  furnishes  the  dreaded  "  blow-gun"  from  which  the 
natives  of  Guiana  shoot  their  poisoned  arrows.  A.  excel- 
sum  Griseb.,  of  Trinidad  and  Dominica,  attains  the 
height  of  25  m.  and  a  diameter  of  30  cm.  A.  capilNfo- 
lium  Griseb.,  of  Cuba,  has  leaves  as  fine  as  horse-hair, 
6  cm.  long.  A.  Quexo  (Aulonemia  Goudot),  of  Colombia, 
is  remarkable  in  its  loose  panicles. 

293.  (279)  Phyllostachys  Sieb.  et  Zuccar.     Spikelets  in 
short,  loosely  paniculate  spikes  which  have  a  very  pecul- 
iar appearance  on  account  of  the  large  imbricated  leaves 
covering  their  bases,  1-4-flowered ;  empty  glumes  2-3 ; 
style  one  with  three  feathery  stigmas.     Stems  arbores- 
cent, semi-terete  ;   nodes  prominent  and  leaves  netted- 
veined. 

Species  four,  in  Japan,  China,  and  the  Himalayas. 
The  black-stemmed  species  cultivated  in  European 
gardens  under  the  name  of  "  Bambusa  nigra"  Lodd., 
whose  flowers  are  'unknown,  probably  belongs  here. 
The  graceful  culms  are  used  for  walking-sticks  ("pepper- 
canes"). 

294.  (280)  Athroostachys  Benth.     Spikelets  one-flow- 
ered, in  dense,  globose  heads,  subtended  by  enveloping 
leaves  ;  empty  glumes  two,  short ;  styles  two. 

Species  one  (A.  capitata  Benth.),  a  suffrutescent 
climber  of  Brazil.  Mouth  of  the  sheath  with  long,  stiff 
bristles. 

295.  (281)  Merostachys  Spreng.     Spikelets    with    3-4 
empty  glumes,  the  lowest  of  which  is  very  small ;  flower- 
ing glumes  chartaceous ;    palea  many-nerved,  with  the 
rachilla  prolonged  beyond  it  and  occasionally  bearing  a 
bract ;  styles  two.     Tall  shrubs  or  climbing  plants,  with 
leaves  indistinctly  netted- veined.     Spikes  unilateral  like 
those  of  the  Chloridece. 


204  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

Species  nine,  in  Brazil,  Paraguay,  and  Peru. 

296.  (282)  Chusquea   Kunth   (jRettbergia  Eaddi,  Den- 
dragrostis  Nees).     Spikelets  with  four  empty  glumes,  the 
lowest  small  and  narrow,  the  upper  like  the  flowering 
glume,  the  latter  broad  and  awnless ;  rachilla  not  pro- 
longed ;  styles  two.    Small-leaved,  tall  shrubby  or  climb- 
ing plants  with  terminal  panicles. 

Species  thirty-five,  all  American  ;  especially  charac- 
teristic plants  of  the  higher  regions  of  the  Andes  and 
the  Brazilian  highlands  from  Mexico  to  South  Chili, 
as  far  as  Chiloe. 

297.  (283)  Planotia     Munro     (Platonia     Kunth     non 
Mart.).     Panicles  very  long  and  narrow,  with  small,  very 
numerous  spikelets  having  the  same  structure  as  those 
of  Chusquea,  but  the  habit  of  the  plant  is  rather  that  of 
the  Festucece,  with  herbaceous,  almost  leafless  culms,  and 
leaves  crowded  together  close  to  the  ground.     The  very 
long  and  often  broad  leaves  are  usually  continuous  (not 
articulate)  with  the  sheaths. 

Species  five,  in  tropical  South  America,  especially  in 
Colombia.  P.  nobilis  Munro  has  the  largest  leaves 
(1.5-4.5  m.  long  by  8-30  cm.  broad)  of  any  grass ;  pani- 
cles over  1  m.  long.  Characteristic  species  upon  the 
Paramos  of  Eiuz.  ["  Paramo"  is  the  name  applied  to 
the  elevated  plains  of  Colombia,  etc.] 

SUB-TRIBE  B. — Eubambuseae. 
Stamens  six;  caryopsis  with  a  delicate  pericarp. 

298.  (284)  Nastus  Juss.    (Stemmatospermum   Beauv.). 
Spikelets   with    6-10   empty  glumes    which   gradually 
increase  in  size  and  become  above  like  the  flowering 
glumes ;  rachilla  prolonged  beyond  the  flowers ;  flower- 
ing glumes  coriaceous ;  ovary  naked  ;  styles  2-3,  more 
or  less  grown  together.     Tall  shrubs  with  branches  ap- 
parently in  whorls.    Panicle  short,  upright,  or  contracted 
into  a  head  and  few-flowered. 

Species  two  or  three,  upon  the  Mascarene  Islands. 
JV.  Borbonicus  Gmel.  forms  a  sharply  limited  wooded 
zone  on  Keunion  Island,  between  950  and  1300  m.  above 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA.          205 

sea  level,  which  is  only  here  and  there  interrupted  by 
lava  streams. 

299.  (286)  Bambusa  Schreb.  (Sambos  Eetz,  Ischuro- 
chloa  Biise).  Spikelets  with  2-6  empty  glumes  gradually 
increasing  in  size  and  becoming  like  the  flowering  glumes, 


c 

FIG.  108.— Leafy  twig  of  Bambusa  arundinacea  Retz.    B,  C,  pieces  of  Tabasheer. 

which  are  coriaceo-chartaceous,  awnless,  or  with  short 
mucronate  points.  The  two-  to  many-flowered  spikelets 
are  frequently  polygamous,  especially  the  upper  ones, 
and  the  lowest  is  often  $  or  empty.  Ovary  hairy  ;  styles 
2-3,  more  or  less  grown  together  at  the  base  ;  caryop- 
sis  elongated-linear,  smooth  or  slightly  furrowed  on  the 
inside. 


206 


THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 


Usually  tall  arborescent  shrubs  or  climbers,  with 
simple  or  compound,  rarely  capitate,  panicles  ;  spikelets 
in  fascicles  along  the  branches  of  the  inflorescence.  There 
are  three  geographically  distinct  sections  : 

Sec.  I.  EiUbambiLsa.  Palea  with  projecting  keels,  which, 
however,  are  not  at  all,  or  only  indistinctly,  winged. 


FIG.  109.— Bambusa  vulyaris  Wendland.     Habit  (fa).     (After  Maout  and 
Dec.,  Traite  de  Bot.) 

Species  thirty  (besides  several  which  are  kn6wn  only 
by  their  leaves),  all  belonging  to  the  Old  World.  B. 
Balcooa  Roxb.  and  B.  Tulda  Roxb.  are  esteemed  as  the 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA. 


207 


species  most  useful  in  East  India,  especially  the  first, 
which  becomes  very  durable  after  lying  in  water.  Both 
are  thoruless.  B.  arundinacea  Eetz  (Fig.  108,  A,  and 
Frontispiece)  (B.  spinosa  Roxb.)  is  a  thorny  and  also  an 
Indian  species.  B.  vidgaris  Wendland  (B.  Tliouarsii 
Kunth)  (Figs.  109,  110),  with  prominently  netted-veiiied 
leaves,  compressed  spikelets,  and  a 
long,  hairy  style,  is  frequently  culti- 
vated in  the  tropical  zones  of  both 
hemispheres ;  its  native  country  is 
uncertain  ;  it  is  also  found  in  Euro- 
pean green-houses.  B.  Fortunei  Van 
Houtte  (B.  picta  and  B.  variegata 
Sieb.)  is  a  somewhat  dwarfed  species, 
with  broadly  striped  leaves  and 
transparent  cross-veins,  and  makes 
a  beautiful  ornamental  plant.  It  is 
from  Japan,  and  endures  the  winter 
in  Western  Europe.  B.  nana  Roxb. 
(B.  glaucescens  Sieb.),  from  Japan  and 
China,  is  2  m.  high  and  has  leaves 
that  are  grayish  blue  on  the  under- 
side. There  are  other  species  having 
horticultural  names  but 
which  are  not  scien- 
tifically classified. 

Sec.II.(285)£Modwa 
Kunth  (as  a  genus). 
Keel  of  palea  more  or 
less  distinctly  winged. 

Species  fifteen,  all 
belonging  to  the  New 
World,  known  in  Brazil  JJ 
as"Taguara."  The 
same  name  is,  however, 
applied  to  the  Chusqwce, 
and  Arthrostylidice. 

Sec.  III.  Guadudla  Franch.  (as  a  genus).     Keel  of  the 
palea  distinctly  winged  ;  spikelets  strongly  compressed. 

According  to  Franchet  the  species  included  in  this 


FIG.  110.— Bambusa  vulgaris  Wendland. 
(After  Kunth,  Revis.  Gram.  pi.  74.) 


208  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

section  is  only  60  cm.  high,  herbaceous,  producing 
merely  two  large  leaves  on  each  culm. 

Species  one  (G.  marantifolia  Franch.),  grows  at 
Gaboon  in  tropical  West  Africa. 

Fossil  Species. — A  plant  from  the  middle  Pliocene  of 
South  France  is  placed  in  this  genus  as  B.  lugdunensis 
Sap.,  and  perhaps  correctly.  On  the  contrary,  the 
species  described  under  Bambusa  of  different  authors 
are,  according  to  Schenk's  critical  remarks,  partly  re- 
mains of  Arundo  and  partly  fragments  of  other  species 
which  cannot  be  classified.  (Engler.) 

300.  Atractocarpa  Franchet.     Spikelets  in  loose,  ter- 
minal racemes,  very  much   laterally   compressed;  two 
empty  glumes,  then  several  $  or  sterile  flowTers,  finally 
a  ? ,  terminal  flower.     Branches  of  the  style  conical  at 
time  of  fruiting,  broader  than  the  caryopsis. 

Species  one  (A.  olyrceformis  Franch.),  on  the  Congo 
at  Brazzaville.  According  to  Franchet  this  grass  grows 
only  30  cm.  high,  is  herbaceous,  and  has  ovate-lanceo- 
late leaves  18  cm.  long  by  7-8  cm.  broad. 

301.  (287)  Gigantochloa  Kurz.     Differing  from  Bam- 
busa only  by  its  monadelphous  stamens.     Tall  arbores- 
cent species  with  numerous,  dense  fascicles  of  spikelets 
in  branched  panicles. 

Species  4-5,  in  the  Malayan  Peninsula  and  Archi- 
pelago. G.  verticillata  Munro  grows  to  the  height  of 
40  in.,  with  the  branches  beginning  very  high  up  on  the 
stem. 

302.  (288)   Oxytenanthera    Munro.      Spikelets    long, 
conical,  in   compact  fascicles,  with    $    terminal  flowers, 
and  1-3  $  or  sterile  ones  below ;   empty  glumes  4-7, 
acute ;  lodicules  none  ;  anthers  ending  in  a  bristle  or 
several  hairs  ;    fruit  as  in  Bambusa.     Tall  shrubs.     Five 
typical  species  in  the  East  Indies  and  upon  the  Sunda 
Islands  ;  a  sixth,  forming  the  section  Scirpobambos,  with 
large,  spiny,  capitate  inflorescence  (0.  Abyssinica  Munro), 
abounds  everywhere  in  tropical  Africa. 

303.  Puelia  Franchet.      Spikelets  in  short,  terminal 
panicles,   otherwise   as  in   Atractocarpa,   but  with   the 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA.         209 

anthers  grown  together,  and  base  of  style  persistent  in 
fruit  but  not  thickened. 

Species  one  (P.  ciliata  Franch.),  at  Gaboon  in  tropical 
West  Africa.  According  to  Franchet  this  grass  is  only 
30  cm.  high ;  culms  herbaceous,  with  long,  narrow-lan- 
ceolate leaves. 


SUB-TRIBE  C.— Dendrocalat 
Stamens  six;  palea  two-keeled;  fruit  fleshy  or  a  nut. 

304.  (289)  Dendrocalamus  Nees.     Spikelets  in  distant 
fascicles  along  the  branches  of  the  panicle  ;  rachilla  pro- 
longed  beyond   the   uppermost  flower;    empty  glumes 
two  to  many,  increasing  gradually  in  size  ;  lodicules  none, 
or  only  1-2  rudimentary  ones  ;  style  long,  with  2-3  short 
stigmas,   enclosed   below  by  a  beak-shaped   prolonga- 
tion of  the  ovary ;    nut  small,  almost  globose,  beaked. 
Tall  fruticose  or  somewhat  arborescent,  with  habit  of 
Bambiisa. 

Species  nine,  in  East  Indies,  Sunda  Archipelago,  and 
China.  D.  strictus  Nees,  the  "Male  Bamboo"  of  the 
English,  in  India,  is  one  of  the  most  robust  and  useful 
species  ;  it  blooms  almost  annually  and  endures  drought. 
The  young  shoots  of  D.  Hamiltoni  are  a  favorite  vegetable. 

305.  (290)MelocalamusBenth.    Spikelets  two-flowered, 
small,   in   distant   fascicles   along   the  branches  of  the 
elongated    panicle ;   rachilla   prolonged   and   bearing   a 
sterile  glume.     The   lower  flower  only  fertile ;    empty 
glumes  two  ;  lodicules  three,  large  ;  styles  three,  united 
below ;  fruit  globose,  nearly  as  large  as  an  apple,  with 
a  coriaceous,  shining  epicarp   and  "very  large,  fleshy 
seed."     (Kurz.) 

Species  one  (M.  compactiflorus  Benth.),  a  tall  shrub 
in  Martaban. 

306.  (291)  Pseudostachyum  Munro.     Spikelets    small, 
one-flowered,  arranged  in  spikes  along  the  branches  of 
the  panicle,  each  with  a  subtending  leaf.    Empty  glumes 
one  ;  flowering  glumes  acute,  involute.    Palea  of  the  same 
length  ;  above  it  there  is  a  pedicellate  globose  or  oblong 


210  THE  TRUE  GRASSES. 

sterile  glume.     Lodicules  three.     Form  of  tlie  fruit  same 
as  in  Anagcdlis.     Subarborescent. 

Species  one  (P.  polymorphism  Munro),  on  the  Hima- 
laya Mountains. 

307.  (293)  Teinostachyum  Munro.     Differing  from  the 
306  in  the  fruit  only ;    spikes  in  tufts,   short,   densely 
flowered,  appearing  like  elongated  spikelets  and  so  un- 
derstood by  Munro.     Shrubby  or  arborescent. 

Species  three,  in  East  Indies. 

308.  (292)  Greslania  Balansa.    Like  the  precehing,  but 
differing  in  its  styles  and  fruit.     Fruit  roundish-oblong, 
with  a  thick  pericarp  which  is  full  of  holes.     Shrubs 
2-3  m.  high. 

Species  three,  all  in  New  Caledonia. 

309.  (294)  Cephalostachyum    Munro.     Spikelets    sub- 
tended by  an  enveloping  leaf  ;  rachilla  prolonged  beyond 
the   fertile  flower,  bearing   rudimentary   bracts ;  empty 
glumes    1-2 ;   lodicules   2-3  ;  style  elongated,  2-3-cleft ; 
ovary  and  the    elongated  fruit    beaked.     Tall    shrubs. 
Spikelets  in  dense  heads,  solitary,  at  the  ends  of  the 
branches,  or  in  many,  remote  glomerules ;   having  the 
appearance  of   a   hedgehog    on  account  of  the  bristly 
projecting  subtending  leaves  of  the  spikelets. 

Species  five,  in  the  East  Indies  and  Madagascar. 


SUB-TRIBE  D.— Melocanneae. 
Palea  keelless,  resembling  the  flowering  glume. 

310.  (295)  Schizostachyum  Nees.  Spikelets  one-flow- 
ered, narrow-lanceolate,  in  remote  fascicles  along  the 
branches  of  the  panicle  ;  rachilla  prolonged,  the  projec- 
tion bristle-like ;  empty  glumes  4-6,  gradually  increas- 
ing in  size,  the  uppermost  one  convolute  like  the  flower- 
ing glume  and  palea,  not  keeled,  many-nerved ;  lodicules 
2-3,  narrow ;  stamens  free  ;  style  elongated,  2-3-cleft  at 
the  point ;  fruit  a  small  ovate  or  globose,  wrinkled  nut, 
with  a  short  beak.  Tall  shrubs  with  a  slightly-branched 
or  simple  inflorescence. 

Species  seven,  in  Malayan  Archipelago,  China,  and 
the  South  Sea  Islands,  as  far  as  the  Sandwich  Islands. 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TRIBES  AND  GENERA.          211 

According  to  Kurz,    Chloothammis  Biise,  with    nodding 
spikelets,  also  belongs  here. 

311.  (296)  Dinochloa    Biise.      Spikelets    very    small, 
one-flowered,  in  distant  fascicles  along  the  branches  of  a 
very  large  panicle  ;  rachilla  not  prolonged  ;  empty  glumes 
2-3,  obtuse ;  flowering  glume  one,  similar  to  the  empty 
ones ;    palea  very  broad,  fringed ;  climbing,  frutescent 
plants.     Fruit  not  well  known,  probably  fleshy. 

Species  one  (D.  Tjankorreh  Biise),  in  the  Malayan 
Archipelago. 

312.  (297)   Melocanna   Trin.      Spikelets  one-flowered, 
in  crowded,  one-sided   spikes,  2-3   together   in   a   tuft 
which  is  subtended  by  a  leaf ;  rachilla  not  prolonged  ; 
empty  glumes    4-8,    mucronate-pointed,  many -nerved ; 
lodicules  two,  narrow ;  style  elongated,  2-4-cleft ;  fruit 
shaped  like  an  apple,  fleshy.     A  tall  tree. 

Species  one  (M.  bamltusoides  Trin.),  in  the  East  Indies, 
occasionally  cultivated  (on  Mauritius,  for  example).  The 
fruit,  wrhich  is  8-12  cm.  in  diameter,  is  baked  and  eaten 
by  the  natives.  The  seed  is  the  size  of  a  betel-nut  and 
of  good  flavor. 

313.  (298)  Ochlandra   Thwaites.     Spikelets   one-flow- 
ered, large,   arranged  in  glomerules  forming  an  inter- 
rupted spike,  or  in  terminal  heads  ;  rachilla  prolonged  ; 
empty  glumes    3-7,  coriaceous ;   flowering    glume   and 
palea  involute,  elongated.     The  numerous  lodicules  and 
the  stamens  somewhat  connate  at  the  base,  the  6-30 
filaments  either  in  several  bundles  or  grown  together 
into  a  tube  that  elongates  after  flowering ;  ovary  long- 
pointed,  style  elongated,  slightly  4-6  cleft  at  the  sum- 
mit ;  fruit  as  in  preceding  genus,  but  somewhat  smaller, 
acuminate-pointed  or  beaked.     Tall  shrubs. 

Species  three,  in  the  East  Indian  Peninsula  and 
Ceylon. 

Doubtful  genera  :  Pentarrhaphis  Kunth  and  Polyschis- 
tis  Presl  ( Chlorldea?  ?) ;  Lepturopsis  Steud.  (Andropogo- 
nece) ;  Chaboisscea  Fourn.  (Festucacece) ;  AsthenocKtoa  Biise, 
LachnocUoa,  Kampmannia,  Disakisperma  Steud.,  position 
undetermined. 


INDEX  AND  GLOSSARY  OF  TERMS. 


Abola  Adans.,  110. 
Achceta  Fourn.,  112. 
Achkena  Griseb.,  86,  90. 

piptostachya  Griseb.,  90. 
Achnatherum  Beauv..  102. 
Achneria  Munro,  115,  119. 
Achnodon  Link,  106. 
Aciachne  Benth.,  96,  103. 

pulvinata  Benth.,  103. 
Acicarpa  Raddi,  75. 
Acicular.     Needle-shaped. 
Acratherum  Link,  68. 
Acroelytrum  Steud.,  158. 
Acropetal.    In  the  direction  of  the 

summit. 

Acrospelion  Bess.,  121. 
Actinochloa  Willd.,131. 
Acuminate.     Taper-pointed. 

Una  Schult.,  155. 
lialitis  Trin.,  155. 

'lops  L.,  180. 
ovata  L.,  180. 

triuncialis,  180. 
^gopogon  H.  B.  K.,  64,  66. 
^luropus  Trin.,  143.  161. 
Agropyrum  Beauv.,  171,  175. 

glaucum  R.  &  8.,  177. 

junceum  Beauv.,  177. 

repens  Beauv.,  176. 
Agrosticula  Raddi,  109. 
AGROSTIDE/E.  35,  95. 
Agrostis  L.,  99,  110. 

alba/;.,  111. 

elegans,  119. 

nebulosa  Boiss.  &  Rent.,  111. 

vulgaris  With.,  111. 
Aira  L.  (in  part),  115,  118. 

caryophyllea  L.,  119. 

elegans  Gaud..  119. 
Airiduim  Steud.,  120. 
Airochloa  Link,  155. 
Airopsis  Desv.,  115,  118. 

globosa  Desv.,  118. 
Albumen  (of  seeds).     The  supply 
of  food-material  in  the  nucleus 
of  the  seed  not  contained  in  the 
embryo.     Endosperm.     21,  25. 
Alectoridia  Rich.,  57. 


Attetotheca  Steud..  158. 
Alloteropis  Presl.  75. 
Alopecums  L..  97,  106. 

occidentalis  Scnbn.,  107. 

pratensis  L.,  107. 

utriculatus  L. ,  107. 
Amblyachyrum  Hochst.,  56. 
Ammochloa  Boiss.,  137,  147. 

pungens  Boiss..  147. 

subacaulis,  147. 
Ammophila  Host.,  99,  112. 

arundinacea  Host.,  113. 

Baltica  Link,  113. 
Ampelodesmos  Beauv.,  136,  150. 

tenax  Link,  150. 
Amphibromus  Nees,  116,  123. 

Neesii  Steud..  123. 
Amphicarpum  Kunth,  70,  73. 
Amphidonax  Nees,  118,  150. 
Amphilophis  Hack.,  58. 
Amphipogon  Brown.  95,  100. 
Amphochwta  Anderss.,  82. 
Amylaceous.    Resembling  or  com- 
posed of  starch. 
Annchysis  Nees,  73. 
Anadelpfiia  Hack.,  58. 
Anastrophus  Schl.,  73. 
Anatherum  muricatum  Beauv.,  61. 
Anatropous.       Ovule       inverted, 
bringing  the  micropyle  and  hi- 
lum  together,  the  chalaza  being 
at  the  end  opposite. 
Andrcecium.     The  male  organs  of 

a  flower,  the  stamens. 
Androgynous.       Staminate      and 
pistillate  flowers  on    the    same 
peduncle  or  in  the  same  inflores- 
cence. 
Andropogon  L.,  47,  57. 

arundinaceus  Scop.,  59. 

contortus  L..  63. 

Gryllus,  61. 

Halapensis  Stbth.,  59. 

Iwarancusa  Blane.  62. 

Ischaemum  L.,  58. 

laniger  Desf.,  62. 

muricatm  Retz.,  61. 

Nardus  L.,  62. 

213 


214 


INDEX  AND  GLOSSARY  OF  TERMS. 


Andropogon  Neesii  Kunth,  61. 
pauciflorus,  61. 
piptatherus  Hack.,  61. 
provincialis  Lam.,  58. 
refractus ,R.  Br.,  63. 
saccharoides  Sw.,  58. 
schcenanthus  L.,  62. 
scoparius  MX.,  57. 
Sorghum  Brot.,  59,  60. 
var.  cernuus,  59. 
var.  Durra,  59. 
var.  niger,  59. 
var.  saccharatus,  59. 
var.  technicus,  59. 
spathitiorus  Kunth,  58. 
squarrosus  L  fil. ,  61. 
Virginicus  L..  58. 
ANDROPOGONE^;,  34,  43. 
Androscepia  Brongn.,  63. 
AnemagrostisTrin.,  113. 
Aueniophilous.    Applied  to  flow- 
ers dependent   upon   the  wind 
for  pollination. 
Anisantha  C.  Koch,  168. 
Anisopogon  Brmcn,  117,  124. 

avenaceus  Brown,  124. 
Anomalotis  Steud.,  113. 
Anomochloa  Brongn.,  87,  90. 
marantoidea  Brongn. ,  90. 
Anthoenantia  Beauv  ,  70,  73. 
Anthephora  Schreb.,  64,  65. 
Anthistiria  L.  til.,  63. 
Anthistiria  ciluita  Auct. ,  63. 
Anthochloa  Nees,  140,  157. 

lepida,  157. 

Anthopogon  Nutt.,  181. 
Anthoxanthum  L..  92,  94. 

odoratum  L.,  94. 
AntinoriaParJ.,  115.  119. 
AntitraffusG&rtn.,  105. 
Antoschmidtia  Steud.,  145. 
Apera  Adam.,  98,  113. 

Spica-Venti  Beauv.,  113. 
Apluda  L.,  46,  56. 

varia  Hack.,  56. 
Apocopsis  Nees,  46,  56. 
Apogamic.     Said    of    flowers    in 
which  the  stamens  and  pistils 
have  lost  their  sexual  functions, 
but  in  which  the  normal  prod- 
uct of  fertilization  (the  seed)  is 
developed. 
Appendage.      Any      superadded 

part. 

Appressed.    When  a  part  is  close 
pressed    against  another,   as   a 
branch  against  the  stem. 
Arborescent.     Tree-like. 
Arctagrostis  Griseb.,  99,  110. 
latifolia  Griseb.,  110. 


ArctopMla  Rupr.,  164. 
AristetlaEerlo}.,  102. 
Aristida  L.,  95,  100. 

OErulescens  Desf.,  100. 

hygroinetrica,  30,  100. 
Ariatidium  Endl.,  132. 
Aristiform.     Awn-shaped. 
Arrhenatherum  Beauv.,  116,  123. 

avenaceum  Beauv.,  123. 
Arrozia  Schrad.,  87. 
Articulate.      Having      separable 

joints. 

Arthratherum  Beauv..  101. 
Arthraxon  Beauv. ,  47,  57. 
Arthrochortus  Lowe,  174. 
Arthrolophis,  58. 
Arthropogon  Nees,  68,  69. 
Arthrostachya  Link,  128. 
Arthrostylidium  Rupr.,  200,  203. 

excelsum  Griseb.,  203. 

capillifolium  Griseb.,  203. 

Quexo.  203. 

Schombnrgkii  Munro,  203. 
Arundinaria  Michx.,  200,  202. 

falcata  Nees,  202 

Japonica  Sieb.,  202 

macrosperma  MX.,  202. 

spathiflora  Ringall,  202. 

tect&Wihl.,  202. 

Wightiana  Nees,  194 
Arundinefe  (sub-tribe),  149. 
Arundinella  Raddi,  68. 
Arundo  L.,  136,  150. 

Donax  L..  150. 

Goepperti  Heer,  151. 

Groenlaudica  Ileer,  151. 
Aspergilliform.  Brush-like. 
AsprellaFiVW.,  172,  192. 

California  Benth.,  192. 

Hystrix  Willd.,  192. 
Asthenochloa  Biise,  211. 
Astrebla  F.  Mull,  127,  132. 

pectinata  MiHl.,  133. 

triticoides  F.  Will.,  133. 
Ataxia  Brown,  94. 
Atheropogon  Muhl..  132. 
Athroostachys  Benth.,  200,  203. 

capitatatfe/iJA.,  203. 
Atractocarpa  Franch.,  201,  208. 

olyraeformis  Franch.,  208. 
Atropis  Rupr.,  144,  165. 

distans  Griseb.,  165. 
Aulaxanthus  Ell.,  73. 
Aulaxia  Nutt.,  73. 
Aulonema  Goudot,  203. 
Avellinia  Parl..  139,  155. 

MicheliiPwJ.,  155. 
AvenaL..  116,  121. 

brevis  Roth,  122. 

elatior  L.,  123. 


INDEX  AND  GLOSSARY  OF  TERMS. 


215 


Avena  fatua  L.,  122. 
flavescens  L.,  121. 
Hookeri  Xcribn.,  123. 
uuda  L.,  122. 
orientals  Schreb.,  122. 
pratensis  L.,  123. 
pubescens  L.,  123. 
sativaZ.,  131. 
strigosa  Schreb.,  122,  123. 
versicola  Hook  uon  Vill.,  123. 
AVENE^E,  35,  114. 
Avenella  Par!.,  120. 
Awn.     A   bristle-like  appendage 
or  extension  of  the  glumes  ;  in 
wheat,    rye,     etc.,     called    the 
' '  beard. " 

Axil.  The  upper  angle  formed  at 
the  insertion  of  a  leaf,  branch, 
glume,  etc. 

Axis.  The  central  line  of  any 
body  ;  the  main  or  central  part 
supporting  a  series  of  branches 
or  other  organs. 

Baldingera  Mey.  &  Schreb.,  93. 
Bamboos,  characters  of,  193. 

geographical  distribution,  196. 

uses  of,  197. 
Bambos  Retz.  205. 
Bambusa  Schreb.,  201,  205. 

aruudiuacea  Retz,195, 199, 207. 

Balcooa  Roxb. ,  206. 

Fortune!  Van  Houtie,  207. 

glauceswns  Sieb.,  207. 

Metake,  202 

mitis  202. 

naua  Roxb.,  207. 

nigru  Lodd.,  203. 

picta  Sieb.,  207. 

spinosa  Roxb.,  207. 

Tltouarsii  Kunth,  207. 

TuldaJ&wd..  206. 

mriegata  Sieb.,  207. 

villosula  Kurz.  193. 

vulgaris  Wendl.,  207. 

;,  36,  193. 
Barbellate     With  hairs  projecting 

from  all  sides. 
Barley,  188. 
Batfiratfierum  Nees,  57. 
Bauchea  Fourn.,  109. 
Bealia  Fcrib.,  103.  104. 

Mexicana  Scribn.,  104 
Bearded.     Clothed  with  hairs  or  a 

beard      Awned. 
Beckera  Fresen.,  68.  69. 
Becker  opm  Fig  &  De  Not..  82. 
Beckmannia  Host.,  127,  133. 

erucaeformis  Host.,  133. 
Berchtoldia  Presl,  78. 


Ben  a,  61. 

Berghausia  Endl.,  110. 
Bermuda-grass,  128. 
Bifid.     Two-cleft ;  said  of  an  or- 
gan divided  into  two  parts  nearly 
to  the  middle. 
Black  Millet,  59. 
Blepharidachue  Hack.,  138,  151. 
Blepharochloa  Endl.,  90 
Bluffla  Nees,  75. 
Blumenbachia  K5L,  58. 
Blyttia  Fries.,  110. 
Boissiera  Hochst.,  135,  169. 

bromoides  Hochst. ,  169. 
Bouteloua  Lag.,  126,  131. 

aristidoides  Griseb.,  132. 

hirsuta  Lag.,  132. 

multiseta  Benth.,  132. 

racemosa  Lag.,  132. 

Texana  .*»'.  Wats  .  132. 
Brachyely trum  Beauv. ,  96,  104. 

aristatum  Beauv.,  104. 
Brachypodiese  (sub-tribe),  167. 
Brachy podium  Beauv.,  144,  169. 

pinnatum  Beauv.,  169. 

sylvaticum  Beauv.,  169. 
Brandtia  Kunth,  68. 
BrizaZ.,  142.  159. 

elegans  Doll.,  160. 

erecta  Lam.,  160. 

maxima  L.,  160 

media  L.,  160. 

minor  L.,  160. 
Brizopyrum  Link,  160. 

siculum  Link,  161. 
Bromtdium,  111. 
Bromus  L.,  144,  167. 

Ardueuneusis  Kunth,  169. 

arvensis  L.,  168. 

catharticus  Vahl.,  168. 

erectus  Huds.,  167. 

inermis  Leyss..  168. 

Mango  Desv.,  169. 

mollisZ.,  168. 

tehraderi  Kunth,  169. 

secalinus  L. ,  168. 

sterilis  L  ,  168. 

Tectorum  L  ,  168. 

unioloides  Kunlh,  169. 
Broom  Sedge,  58. 
Brylkinia  F.  Schmidt,  159. 

caudata  F.  Schmidt,  159. 
Buchloe  Engelm.,  128,  134. 

Dactyloides.£%eftw.,  135. 
Buffalo-grass,  135. 
BuiWWsRaflneaq.,  134. 
Bulliform.    Blister-like;  applied  to 

"  irged  epi den- 
cells 
grasses.  9. 


mal 


the  peculiar  enlarged 

s    found    in    the    leaves  of 


216 


INDEX  AND  GLOSSARY  OF  TEEMS. 


Cabrera  Lag. ,  73. 

Caducous.  Falling  off  early,  or 
earlier  than  is  usual  with  similar 
organs. 

Caespitose.     Growing  in  tufts. 
Calamagrostis  Both,  99,  112. 
ambigua  Scribn.,  112. 
brevipilis  Gray,  113. 
Epigeos  Roth,  112. 
HallerianaZ>C'.,  112. 
lanceolata  Roth,  112. 
littorea  DC.,  112. 
longifolia  Hook.,  113. 
Moutauensis  Scribn.,  112. 
Suksdorffii  Scribn,,  112. 
Tweedy i  *cribn.,  112. 
Calamochloa  Fourn.,  136,  145. 

filifolia  Fourn.,  145. 
Calamovilfa,  99,  113. 

brevipilis  Scribn.,  113. 
lougifolia  Scribn.,  113. 
Callus.     Term  applied  to  an  exten- 
sion of  the  flowering  glume  be- 
low its  point  of  insertion,  and 
which  is  grown  to  the  axis  or 
rachilla  of  the  spikelet,  13. 
Calotheca  Desv.,  160. 
Calycodon  Nutt. ,  104. 
Campella  Link,  119. 
Campulosus  Desv.,  129. 
Campy  lotropous.      An    ovule    or 
seed  which  is  curved  upon  it- 
self, bringing  the  apex  near  to 
the  base. 
Canary-grass,  93. 
Capillary.     Hair-like. 
Capitate.     A  dense    globular   in- 

floresence;  head-shaped. 
Capriola  Adans.,  128. 
Cartilaginous.     Firm  yet  flexible, 

gristle-like. 
Caryochlita  Trin.,  87. 
Caryopsis.     Term  applied  to  the 
grain  or  seed-like  fruit  of  grasses 
in  which  the  thin  pericarp   is 
adnate  to  the  seed,  19. 
Castellia  Tin.,  166. 
Catabrosa  Beauv.,  140,  156. 

aquatica  Beauv.,  156. 
Cataclastos,  154. 
Catapodium  Link,  144,  167. 
loliaceum  Link,  167. 
Lolium  Hack.,  167. 
Catenulate.     Composed  of    parts 
united  end  to  end  in  an  indefi- 
nite series. 

Cathestechum  Presl,  136.  145. 
erectum  Vasey  &  Hack.,  146. 
prostratum  Presl,  146. 


Caudate.     Tail-like  or  having  a 

tail-like  appendage. 
Cenchrus  L.,  71,  79. 

echinatus  L.,  80. 

rayosuroides  Humb.  &  Kth. ,  80. 

tribuloides  L. ,  79. 
Centotheca  Desv.,  141,  158. 
Cephalochloa  Coss.  &  Our.,  147. 
Cephalostachyum  Munro,  201,  210. 
Ceratochloa  Beauv.,  169. 

pendula  Schrad.,  169. 
CeresiaPars.,  73. 
Chaboissaea  Fourn.,  211. 
CluEtaria  Beauv.,  100. 
Chsetium  Nees,  71,  78. 
Chmtobromus  Nees,  125. 
Chsetotropis  Kanth,  100,  111. 

Chilensis  Kunth,  111. 
Chaeturus  Link,  97,  109. 

fasciculatus  Link,  100. 

prostratus  Hack.,  109. 
Chamcedactylis  Nees,  161. 
Chamoeraphis  Brown,  72,  82. 
Chamagrostis  Borkh.,  107. 
Chartaceous.     Like  writing-paper 

in  texture. 

Chascolytrum  Desv.,  160. 
Chasmanthium  Link,  159. 
Chilochloa  Beauv.,  106. 
Chionachne  Br.,  43. 
CHLORIDE/K,  36,  125. 
Chloridopifis  Blancliardiana,  130. 
Chloris  Sw.,  126,  130. 

barbata  Sw.  (fig.),  130. 

gracilis  Dur.,  130. 
Chloropsis,  130. 
CJiondrolcena  Nees,  117. 
Cliondrosium  Desv.,  131. 
Chrysopogon  Trin.,  61. 
Chrysurus  Pers.,  163. 

cynosuroides,  163. 
Chusquea  Kunth,  200,  204. 
Ciliate.     With  a  fringe  of  hairs. 
Cinna  L.,  98,  110. 

arundinacea  L.,  110. 

pendula  Trin.,  110. 
Cinnagrostis  Griseb.,  99,  112. 

polygama  Griseb.,  112. 
Cinnastrum  Fourn.,  112. 
Citronella  oil,  62. 
Cleistachne  Benth.,  64. 
CLomena  Beauv  ,  104. 
Coelachne  Brmcn,  115,  118. 
Ccelachyrum  Nees,  127,  134. 

brevifolium  Nees,  134. 

Indicum  Hack.,  134. 
Ccelorhachis  Brongu.,  52. 
CoixZ,  37. 

Lachryma  L.,  43. 


INDEX  AND   GLOSSARY  OF  TERMS. 


217 


Coleanthus  Seid .,  97,  107. 
subtilis  Seid.,  108. 

Coleabenia  Griseb.,  76. 

Coleorhiza.  Sheath  investing  the 
radicle  of  the  embryo  through 
which  the  roots  burst  in  ger- 
mination. 19,  25. 

Colladoa  Cav.,  55. 

CollinariaEhrb.,  155. 

Colobnchne  Beauv.,  107. 

ColobanthusTrin.,  155. 

Colpodium  Trin.,  143,  164. 
fulvum  Grineb.,  164. 
penduliuum  Griseb.,  164. 

Complanate.     Flattened. 

Compressed.  Flattened  from  op- 
posing sides  or  from  one  side 
only,  as  when  speaking  of 
spikelets  being  flattened  from 
the  back  (dorsally  compressed). 

Connate.  Said  of  parts  united  or 
grown  together  from  their 
origin. 

Connective.  The  part  of  a  stamen 
connecting  the  cells  of  an 
anther. 

Continuous.  Without  separable 
joints ;  opposed  to  articulated 
and  to  interrupted. 

Contracted.  A  panicle  is  con- 
tractedwhen  narrowed  by  hav- 
ing its  branches  erect  or  ap- 
pressed. 

Convulute.     Rolled  up. 

Cordate.     Heart-shaped. 

Coriaceous.     Leathery  in  texture. 

Coridochloa  Nees,  75. 

Corneous.     Like  horn  in  texture. 

Cornucopias  L.,  96,  105. 
cucullatum  L.,  105. 

Corynephorus  Beauv.,  116,  119. 
canescens  Beauv.,  119. 

Cottea  Kunth,  1&5,  145. 

pappophoroides.fifw7i<7i,  145. 

Couch-grass,  176. 

Crab-grass,  75. 

Crcepalia  Schrank..  173. 

Craspedorhachis  Benth.,  126,  131. 
Africana  Benth. ,  131. 

Crinipes  Hochst.,  125. 

Critesivn'Rsifin.,  188. 

Crithodium  <?gilopoides  Link,  180. 

Crithopsis  Jaub.,  191. 

Crypsinna  Fourn.,  109. 

Crypsis  Ait.,  96,  105. 
aculeata  Ait.,  105. 
schosnoides  Lam. ,  106. 
Cryptochloris  Benth  ,  132. 
Cryptostachys  Steud.,  109. 

Ctenium  Panz.,  126,  '129. 


Otenopsis  De  Not.,  166. 

Culm.     The    stalk    or    stem    of 

grasses.     2. 

Culm,  minute  structure  of,  4. 
Culm-nodes,  2.  3. 
Cuspidate.      Gradually     tapering 

into  a  sharp  stiff  point. 
Cutandia  Willk.,  140,  156. 

maritirna  Benth.,  156. 
Cuzco  Maize,  40. 
Cyathorachis  Nees  42. 
Cymbopogon  Spreug.,  61. 
Cynodon  Pers..  125,  128. 

Dactylon  Pers.,  128. 
Cynosurus  L.,  138,  161. 

cristatus  L..  162. 

echinatus  L.,  162. 
CzernyaPres},  151. 

Dactylis£..  143,  161. 

ccespitosa  Forst.,  164. 

glomerata  L.,  161. 
Dactylocteuium  Willd.,  127,  134 

^Egyptiacum  Willd.,  134. 
Dactylon  Vill.  (in  part),  128. 
Danthouia  DC.,  117,  124. 

compressa  Aust. ,  125. 

proviucialis  DC.,  125. 
Decussate.      In    pairs  alternately 

crossing. 

Deciduous.     Falling  off,  not  per- 
sistent. 

Dendragro'stis  Nees,  204. 
Dendrocalamus  Nees,  201,  209. 

Hamiltonii  Nees  et  Am..  209. 

strictus  Nees,  194, 195.  209. 
Deschampsia  Beauv.,  116,  119. 

caespitosa  Beauv..  120. 

flexuosa  Trin.,  120. 
Desmazeria  Dumort.,  142,  160. 

sicula  Dum.,  161. 
Despreteia  Kunth.  158. 
Deyeuxia  Beauv.,  112. 
Diachyrium  Griseb..  109. 
Diaphragm.      Transverse  septum 
or  cross- wall  at  the  nodes  of  the 
culm. 
Diarrhena  Rafin..  141.  157. 

Americana  P.B.,  157. 

Japonica  Franch.  &  Sav.,  157. 
Diastemanthe  Steud  ,  82. 
Dichcetaria  Nees,  131. 
Dichanthium  Willemet,  61. 
Dichelachne  Endl.,  99,  113. 

cnmtfLHook.,  113. 

sciurea  Hook.,  113. 
Dichogamous.     Flowers  in  which 
the  stamens  and  pistils  mature 
at  different  periods. 
Didactylon  Zoll.,  47. 


218 


INDEX  AND   GLOSSARY  OF  TERMS. 


DiectomisU.  B.  K,  57. 

Diffuse.      Branched    aud  widely 

spreading. 

Digitate.     Fingered;  an   arrange- 
ment of  branches,  leaves,  etc., 

wherein  all  start  or  radiate  from 

a  common  point. 
Dimeria  R.  Br.,  44,47. 
Diuebra/ac?.,  127.  133. 
Arabica/oej.,  183. 
Dinochloa  Bitse,  202,  211. 
Tjaukorreh  Biuse,  211. 
Digitaria  Pers.,  74. 
Digraphs  Trin.,  93. 
Dilepyrumll-Afm.,  102. 
Dioecious.     Having  staminate  and 

pistillate  flowers  each  borne  on 

different  plants. 
Dioicopoa,  164. 
Diplachue  Beaut).,  138,  153. 
Diplax  Hook.,  92. 
Diplocea  Raf.,  153. 
Diplopogon  Brown,  98,  114. 

setaceus  Brown,  114. 
Dipogonia  Beauv.,  114. 
Disakisperma  Sieud.,  211. 
Disarrenum  Labill.,  94. 
Dissanthelium  Trin.,  139,  153. 
Distichlis  Raf. ,  142,  159. 

maritinia  Safin.,  159. 
Distichous.     In  two  perpendicular 

opposite  rows. 
Distribution,  geographical,  31. 

means  of,  28. 
Divaricate.   Widely  spreading,  the 

angle  of  the  axil  being  greater 

than  a  right  angle. 
Dog's-tooth  grass,  128. 
Donax  Beauv. ,  150. 
Dorsal.    Belonging  to  or  growing 

on  the  back. 

Dupontia  Brown,  143,  164. 
Fischeri  Brown,  164. 
psilosautha  Rupr.,  164. 
Durra,  59. 

Eatonia  .Ra/.,  139.  155. 

filiformis  Vasey,  155. 

obtusa  Gray,  155. 

Pennsylvanica  Gray,  155. 
Echiuaria  Deaf.,  136, 147. 

capitata  Desf. ,  147. 
Echinochloa  Beauv.,  76. 
Echinolana  Desv.,  75. 
Echinopogon  Beauv.,  97,  106. 

ovatus  Beauv.,  106. 
Ectrosia  Brown,  140,  156. 

leporina  Brown,  156. 
rptian  Wheat,  185. 

"  irta  Thunb.,  92. 


Ehrhartia  Wigg  ,  90. 
Electra  Panzer,  163. 
Eleusiue  Gdrtn.,  127,  133. 
Coracana  Gdrtn.,  134. 
Indica  Gdrtn.,  134. 
Elionurus  H.  B.  K.,  47,  56. 
barbiculinis  Hack. ,  56. 
tripsacoides  //.  B.  K.,  56. 
Elymeae  (sub-tribe),  187. 
ElymusZ.,  171,  191. 
arenarius  L.,  192. 
Delileanus  Sehult.,  191. 
Elytrigia  Desv.,  176. 
Elytrophorus  Beauv.,  137,  148. 

articulatus  Beauv.,  148. 
Emarginate.     Having  a  notch  at 

the  end. 
Embryo.     The  young  plant  as  it 

exists  in  the  seed.     19. 
Endosperm.     Tissue  formed  with- 
in the  embryo-sac  after  fertiliza- 
tion, serving  for  the  nutrition  of 
the  embryo.     Albumen. 
English  Ray-grass,  1 73. 
Enneapogon  Desv.,  145. 
Enodium  Gaud.,  153. 
Enteropogon  Nees,  126,  129. 
Epiblast.     Term    applied    to    the 
small    scale-like  appendage    in 
front  of  the  embryo  and  oppo- 
site the  scutellum  found  in  the 
seed  of  many  grasses.     24. 
Epicampes  Presl,  99.  109. 
Epicotyl.     The  part  of  the  young 
stem  let  above  the  cotyledons,  24. 
Epigeos  Koch,  112. 
Epithelium.     Term  applied  to  the 
palisade-like  and  absorbent  cells 
covering  the  inner  face  of  the 
scutellum.     21. 
Eragrostis  Ho*t.,  139.  154. 
Abyssinica  Link,  154. 
brevifolm  Benth.,  134. 
ciliaris  Link,  154. 
Mexicana  Link,  154. 
oxylepis  Torr.,  154. 
pilosa  Beauv.,  154. 
EremittsDott.,  192. 
Eremochloa  Biise,  46,  55. 
Eremochloe  S.  Wats  ,  152. 
Eremopyrum  Jaub.  &  Spach.,  177. 
Eriachne  Brown,  115,  117. 
Eriachne  Nees,  119. 

glauca  Brown,  118. 
Erianthus  Michx.,  45,  51. 
Ravenna?  Beauv.,  51. 
Eriocha'.ta  Fig.  &  De  Not.,  81. 
Eriochloa  Kunth,  70.  74. 
Eriochrysis  Beauv.,  51. 
Eriocoma  Nutt..  102. 


INDEX  AND  GLOSSARY  OF  TERMS, 


219 


Euaudropogoueae  (sub-tribe),  56. 

Euchkena  Schrad.,  36,  37. 
luxurians,  38. 
Mexicana  Schrad.,  38. 

Euklnstaxon  Steud.,  58. 

Eulalia  Kunth,  51. 
Japonica  Triii.,  49. 

Eurytuchne  Hack.,  54. 

Eustachys  Desv.,  130. 

Eutriana  Trin.,  131. 

Evergreen  grass,  123. 

Excentric.  Out  of  the  centre,  one- 
sided. 

Exotheca  Anderss. ,  63. 

Extravagiual.  Beyond  or  out- 
side of  the  sheath ;  applied  to 
branches  springing  from  buds 
which  break  through  the  sheath 
of  the  subtending  leaf.  2. 

Falcate.     Sickle-shaped. 

Falona,  162. 

Fasciculate.     In    bundles    which 

originate  from  the  same  point. 
Fendleria  Steud.,  102. 
Festuca  L.,  144,  165. 

elatior  L.,  166. 

quadrideutata  Kunth,  166. 

Lacheualii  Link,  167. 

ovina  L.,  166. 

pectiuella  Del.,  166 

pratensis  Huds.,  166. 

rubra  L.,  166. 
Festucaria  Link,  166. 
FESTCCE^,  36,  135. 
Fibichin  Kol.,  128. 
Filiform.     Thread-like. 
Fingerhuthia  Nees,  137,  148. 

Africana  Lehm.,  148. 
Fiorin-grass,  111. 
Fiorinia  Parl.,  119. 
Flabelliform.     Same  as  flabellate. 
Flabellate.     Fan-shaped. 
Flexuose.     Wavy  or  bent    alter- 
nately in  opposite  directions. 
Foliacebus,     Leaf-like. 
Fossil  grasses,  32. 
Fruit  and  seed,  19. 
Frutescent.     Becoming    hard    or 

woody  or  shrub-like, 
Fruticose.     Shrub-like. 
Funiculus.  The  stalk  attaching  the 
seed  or  ovule  to  the  placenta.  18. 
Furrowed      Same  as  sulcate. 
Fussia  Schur,,  118. 

Gama  grass,  42 
Gamelytrum  Nees,  100. 
Garnotia  Brongn..  98,  HO. 
Gastridium  Beauv.,  98,  111. 


Gastridium  australe  Beauv.,  111. 

scabrum  Preal,  111. 
Gaudinia  Beauv.,  116,  123. 
f ragilis  Beauv. ,  124. 
gemiuiflora  /.  Gay.  124. 
Geniculate.     Bent   abruptly  to  a 

decided  angle;  kneed. 
Geographical  Distribution,  31. 
Germainia  Balam.  &  Foil.,  47,  64. 

capitatai?.  tfe  P.,  64. 
Giant  Rye,  186. 
Gigantochloa-ffMrz.,  201,  208. 

verticillata  Munro,  2US. 
Glandular.    Provided  with  glands. 
Glomerate.       Densely      clustered 

into  small  irregular  heads. 
Glumes.     The    two-ranked  chaff- 
like  leaves  or  bracts  of  the  spike- 
let,  which  subtend  one  another 
(empty  glumes)  or  bear  flowers 
in  their  axils  (flowering  glumes). 
Glumes,  empty,  1,  11. 
Glumes,  flowering,  1,  11. 
Glume,  Fruiting.     The  flowering 
glume  at  the  time  the  fruit  is 
formed  and  which  it  encloses. 
Glumes,  Sterile.     Glumes  of  the 
spikeletsubtendiugotherglumes, 
or  which   bear    no    flowers  in 
their  axils. 

Glyceria  Brown,  144,  165. 
aquatica  Sm.,  165. 
fluitaus  Brown,  165. 
Goldbachia  Triu.,  68. 
Golden  Oats.  121. 
Grain.     The  fruit  of  grasses.     19. 
Grama-grass,  131 
Graphephorum  Desv.,  144,  165. 
Graphephorum(?)flexuomm  Thurb., 
melicoidesZ5m>.,  165.       [153. 
Grasses,  fossil,  32. 

fruit  and  seed  of,  19.         [31. 

feographical  distribution  of, 
ey  to  tribes  of,  34. 

means  of  distribution  of,  28. 

organs  of  reproduction  of,  15. 

organs  of  vegetation  of,  2. 

pollination  in.  17. 

relations  of,  32. 

special  characters  of,  1. 
Greenia  Nutt.,  110. 
Greslania  Balansa,  201 ,  210. 
Guadua  Kunth,  207. 
Guaduella  Franch.,  207. 

marantifolia  Franch.,  208. 
Guinea-grass,  76. 
Gynerium  Humb.  &  Bonpl.    136, 

argenteum  Nees,  149.        [149 
Gymnopogon  Be<iuv.,  126,  131 
Gymnosticfium  Schreb..  192. 


220 


INDEX  AND  GLOSSARY  OF  TERMS. 


Gymnothrix  Beauv.,  81. 
Japonica,  82. 
latifolia  Schult.,  82. 

Halochloa  Griseb.,  146. 
Haplachne  Presl,  47. 
Harpaclme  Hochst. ,  140,  156, 

Schimperi  Uochst.,  156. 
Harpechloa  Kunth,  126,  129. 

Capensis  Kunth,  129. 
Haynaldia  *chur.,  171,  177. 

hordeacea  Hack.,  177. 

villosa  Schur.,  177. 
Hekaterosachne  Steud.,  78. 
HeleochlofiHosL,  97,  105. 

schcenoides,  106. 
Helicotrichum  Bess.,  123. 
Helopus  Trin.,  74. 
Hemarthria  R.  Br.,  58. 
Hemibromus  Steud.,  169. 
Hemitropous.     Half  anatropous. 
Hemisacris  Steud.,  163. 
Herba  Schoeuanthi,  62. 
Herbaceous.    Having  the  color  and 

texture  of  a  leaf. 

Hermaphrodite       Applied    to 
flowers  cpiitaining  both  stamens 
and  pistils 
Heterachne  .&»*&.,  140,  156. 

Brownii  Benth.,  157. 

Gulliveri  Benth.,  157. 
Heteranthelium  Hochst.,  171.  187. 

piliferum  Hochst.,  187. 
Heterelytron  Jungh.,  63. 
Heterogamous.     Bearing  flowers 

of  two  kinds. 
Heteropogon  Pers.,  63. 
Heterostega  Desv.,  132. 
Heuffelia  Schur.,  123. 
Hexarrhena  Presl,  65. 
Hierocloe"  Gmelin.  92,  94. 

odorata  Waldb.,  94. 
Hilaria  Kunth,  65. 
Hilum.     The  scar  left  by  the  sepa- 
ration   of    the    seed    from    its 
placenta.     The  place  of  attach- 
ment of  the  seed.     20. 
Hispid.    Covered  with  long  stiff 

hairs. 

Holboillia  Wall,  et  Hook.,  67. 
Holcus  L.  (in  part),  114,  117. 

lanatus  L.,  117. 
Hologamium  Nees,  55. 
Holowtum  Steud.,  75. 
Honuilocenchrus  Mi  eg.,  90. 
Homogamous.      Bearing    flowers 

which  are  all  alike. 
Homoplitis  Trin.,  52. 
HORDED.  170. 
Hordeum  L.,  171,  187. 


Hordeum  mleste  L.,  190. 

Caput- Medusae,  191. 

crinituin,  191. 

distichon^L.,  189. 

hewtstichon  L.,  189. 

Kaufmanni  Regel,  190. 

murinum  L.,  188. 

nudum  L.,  189. 

sativum  Jessen,  188. 

sat.  distichon,  189. 

sat.  hexastichon.  189. 

sat.  vulgare,  189,  190. 

spontaneuni  C.  Koch,  189. 

sylvaticum,  191. 

trifurcatum,  190. 

vulgare  L.,  190. 
Horse- tooth  Maize,  40. 
Hungarian  Grass,  78,  79. 
Husk  Maize,  40. 
Hyaline.     Transparent. 
Hydrochloa  Beauv.,  85,  87. 

Carolinensis  Beauv.,  87. 
Hydropyrum  Link,  88. 

esculentum  Link,  88. 
Hygroryza  Nees.  86,  90. 

aristata  Nees.  90. 

tmenachne  Beauv.,  76. 
menotltecium  Lag.,  66. 
Hypocotyl.     The  part  of  the  axis 
or  stem  of  an  embryo  below  the 
cotyledons.      Same  as    cnulicle. 
The  term  radicle  is  often  used  in 
the  same  sense. 
Ilypoyynium  Nees,  57. 
Hypophyllum.     An  abortive  leaf 
or  scale  under  another  leaf,  or 
seeming  leaf  (Gray). 
Hmteriefaa  Gteud. ,  106. 
Hystrix  Munch,  192. 
Imbricate.     Overlapping  like  the 
shingles  on  a  roof  or  the  scales 
on  a  iish. 

Imperata  Cyr.,  44,  49. 
arundinacea  Cyr.,  49. 
mcchnriflora  Maxim  ,  49. 
,  Inarticulate.     Not  jointed. 
I  Indian  Rice,  88. 
!  Indurated.     Hardened. 
Inflorescence.    'The  disposition  or 
arrangement  of  the  flowers  on 
the  stem.    10. 

Internodes.  The  portion  of  the 
stem  or  culm  between  two 
nodes.  2. 

Interrupted.  Broken  at  intervals. 
Intravaginal.  Within  the  sheath; 
applied  to  branches  springing 
from  buds  which  do  not  break 
through  the  sheath  of  the  sub- 
tending leaf  (See  page  2.) 


INDEX  AND   GLOSSARY  OF  TERlfS. 


221 


Involucre.    Bracts  surrounding  or 

subtending  a  flower  cluster. 
Involute.    Applied  to  a  leaf  whose 

edges  are  rolled  inwards. 
Ipuum  Philippi,  138,  154. 

Mendociuum  Phil.,  155. 
Isachne  Brawn,  70,  74. 
Ischismopogon  Griseb.,  55. 
Ischa.'inum  L. ,  46,  55. 

Urvilleanum  Kunth,  55. 
Ichauthus  Beauv.,  71,  77. 
Ischn  ur us  #«<;/.  /?£.,  170,  174. 

pulchellus  £«£/./.,  174. 
Ischurochloa  Biise,  205. 
Iseilema  Anderss.,  47,  64. 

Wrightii  Anderss.,  64. 
Isotria,  152. 
Italian  Ray-grass,  173. 
Irophorus  Schl.,  79. 

Jarava  Ruiz  et  Pa  von,  102. 
Jardinea  Steud.,  54. 
Job's  Tears,  43. 
Jouvea  Fournier,  170,  174. 
strain  iuea  F&urn.,  174. 
June-grass,  164. 

Kampmannia  Steud.,  211. 
Kangaroo-grass,  63. 
Keeled.     Having  a  ridge  or  pro- 
jection on  the  back  like  the  keel 
of  a  boat.     Same  as  carinate. 
Kentucky  Blue-grass,  164. 
Kerinozoma  t*teud.,  170,  174. 

littoralis  ZolL,  174. 
Key  to  the  tribes,  34. 
Knappia  Sm.,  107. 
Koaleria  Pers.,  139,  155. 

cristata  Pers.,  155. 

phleoides  Pers.,  156. 
Korycarpus  Zea,  157. 
Kralikia  COM.  &  Dur.,  170,  174. 

Africana  0.  &  D.,  174. 
Krombholzia  Fourn.,  158. 
Ktenosachne  Steud.,  117. 
Kushus,  61. 

Lachnochloa  Steud.,  211. 
Lagurus  L.,  98,  114. 

ovatus  L.,  114. 
Lamarkia  Winch,  138,  163. 

aurea  Mcmch,  163. 
Lamina.     The  blade  of  the  leaf. 
Lanceolate.     Shaped  like  a  lance- 
head,  narrower  than  oblong. 
Lappagrostis  Steud.,  73 
Lasiagrostis  Link,  102. 
Lasiochloa  Kunth,  143,  161. 

adscendens  Kunth,  161. 

hirta  Kunth,  161. 


Lasiolytrum  Steud.,  57. 
Latipes  Kunth,  65.  66. 

Seuegalensis  Kunth,  67. 
Leaf-blade,  6. 
Leaf,  bulliform  cells  in,  9. 

nervation,  8. 

parts  of,  6. 

torsion,  8. 

Leaves,  arrangement  of,  4. 
Leersia  Swz. ,  86,  90 

hexandra,  90. 

oryzoides  Swz.,  90. 
Lemon-grass  oil,  62. 
Lepideilema  Trin.,  91. 
Lepidopironia  Rich.,  127,  132. 
Lepocercis  Trin.,  61. 
Leptaspis  Brown.  85,  87. 
Leptatheruui  Nees,  51. 
Leptocarydion  Hochst.,  153 
Leptochloa  Beauv.,  128,  134. 

mucronata  Kunth,  134. 
Leptomryphium  Nees,  73. 
Leptothrium  Kunth,  65.  67. 

rigidum  Kunth.  67. 
Leptureae  (sub-tribe),  175. 
Lepturopsis  Steud.,  211. 
Lepturus  Brown,  171,  175. 

Bolanderi  Thurb. ,  175. 

Panuonicus  Kunth,  175. 
Lei-chenfeldia  Schur.,  120. 
Lesourdia  Fourn.,  146. 
Leucopoa  Griseb..  166. 
Libertia  Lej.,  168. 
Ligule.     An  erect,    usually  hya- 
line   or    membranaceous,    pro- 
longation on  the  inner  side  of 
the    leaf-sheath    at    the    point 
where  the  latter  unites  with  the 
blade.     6. 
Limnas  Trin.,  97,  110. 

Stelleri  Trin.,  110. 
Limnetis  Pers.,  129. 
Linear.     Many  times  longer  than 

broad,  with  parallel  sides. 
Lithachne  Beauv.,  84. 
Lithagrostis  Gcartn..  43. 
Lodicules.      The    small     delicate 
scales   between    the    flowering 
glume  and  stamens,  14. 
LoliumZ.,  170,  172. 

Italicum  A.  Braun,  173. 

perenne  L.,  173. 

remotum,  173. 

temulentum  L.,  173. 
Lopatherum  Brongn.  140,  158. 
Lophochkena  Nees,  159. 
Lophochloa  Reichenb.,  155. 
Lopholepis  Decne.,  65,  67 

ornithocephala  Decne.,  67 
Lophopogon  Hack.,  46,  56 


222 


INDEX  AND   GLOSSARY  OF  TERMS. 


Lophopogon  tridentatus  Hack.,  56. 
Loudetia  Hochst..  124. 
Luccea  Kuuth,  57. 
Ludolfia  Willd.,  202. 
Luziola  Juss.,  86,  87. 
Lycurus  Kunth,  96,  104. 
Lygeum  L.,  87,  91. 
spartum  L.,  91. 

Macrochloa  Kunth,  102. 

tenddssima  Kunth,  101. 
Macroblepharus  Philippi,  154. 
Maillea  Purl.,  97,  106. 

Urvillei  Parl. ,  106. 
Maize,  38,  40. 

Cuzco,  40. 

Horse-tooth,  40. 

Husk,  40. 

Pearl,  40. 

Sugar,  40. 

uses  of,  41. 

Maltebrunia  Kunth,  86,  88. 
Manisuins  L.,  53. 
Manisuris  Sw.,  45,  54. 

granularis  Sw.,  54. 
Matrella  Pers.,  67. 
MAYORS,  34,  36. 
Mays  Giirtu.,  38. 
Meadow  Fescue,  166. 
Meadow  Foxtail,  107. 
Megalachne  Steud.,  144,  169. 

Berteroniana  Steud..  169. 
Megalachne  Thwaites,  117. 
Megaatachya  Beauv.,  154. 
Melocalamus  Benth.,  201,  209. 

compactiflorus  Benth. ,  209. 
Melocanna  Trin.,  202,  211.      [211. 

bambusoides   Trin.,  193,  199, 
Melanocenchris  Nees,  126,  132. 
MelicaZ,.,  141,  157. 

ciliata  L.,  157. 

uutans  L.,  157. 
Melinis  Beauv.,  68. 

minutiflora  Beauv.,  69. 
Melinum  Link,  88. 
Merabrauaceous  (or  Membranous). 
Thin  and  flexible,  and  usually 
translucent,  like  a  membrane. 
Meoschium  Beauv.,  55. 
Merisa,  59. 

Merostachys  Sprengl,  200,  203. 
Mesquite,  131. 
Mibora  Adam.,  97,  107. 

verna  Adans.,  107. 
Michelami  Dum.,  168. 
Micraira  F.  Mull,  115,  118. 

subulifolia  Mull.,  118. 
Michrochloa  Brown,  125,  128. 

setacea  Brown,  128. 
Microkeua  Brown,  92. 


Micropyrum  Link,  166. 

Microstegium  Nees,  52. 

Microthuareia  Thouars,  83. 

Miegia  Pers.,  202. 

Millar  ium  Moench,  102. 

Milium  L.,  96, 102. 
ell'usum  L.,  102. 

Millet,  76. 

Miquelia  Nees,  110. 

Miracle  Wheat,  185. 

Miscanthus  Anderss.,  44,  49. 
saccariflorus  Hack.,  49. 
Sinensis  Anderss.,  49. 

Mnesithea  Kunth,  53. 

Molineria  Parl.,  115,  119. 

Moliuia  Schrank,  139,  153. 
caerulea  Moench,  154. 

Monachyron  Parl. ,  77. 

Monadelphous.  Said  of  stamens 
whose  filaments  are  united, 
forming  a  tube  around  the 
pistil. 

MonandrairaDesv.,  120. 

Monanthochloe"  Engel,  137,  146. 
littoralis  Engel,  146. 

Monerma  Beauv.,  170,  174. 

subulata  Rom.  &  ScJiult.,  174. 

Mouocarpic.     Fruiting  only  once. 

Monocera,  Ell.,  129. 

Monochsete  Doll.,  126, 131. 
fastigiata  Doll.,  131. 

Monoecious.  Having  the  stamens 
and  pistils  borne  in  separate  flow- 
ers but  on  the  same  plant, 

Monoi,  63. 

Monopodial.  Where  the  main 
axis  continues  to  extend  in  the 
line  of  previous  growth  at  the 
same  time  that  similar  lateral 
growths  are  produced  below  in 
acropetal  succession. 

MonopogonPres],  124. 

Mucronate.  Terminating  in  a 
small  projecting  point. 

Muhleubergia  Schreb.,  96,  103. 

Munroa  Torrey,  137,  146. 
squarrosa  Torr.,  146. 

MyriachataTM\\.,  69. 

Myriostachya,  154. 

Nardurus  Reichenb. ,  166. 
Nardus  L.,  170,  172. 

stricta  L.,  172. 
NassellaDes®.,  95,  102. 
NastusJiws.,  200.  204. 

Borbonicus  Gmelin,  204 
Navicula.     Boat-shaped. 
Navicularia  Raddi,  77 
Nemastachys  Steud.,  51. 
Nephelochloa  Bom  ,  143,  163. 


INDEX  AND  GLOSSARY  OF  TERMS. 


223 


Nephelochloa  orieutalis  Boiss.,  163. 

Nervation,  8. 

Nerves.     Rib-like  projections    or 

bundles  of  fibrous  tissue  in  the 

leaves,  glumes,  etc. 
Neuracnne  Brown,  65,  67. 
Node.      The    larger    or    smaller 

swellings  at  the  limits  of  an  in- 

ternode.     2. 
Node,  culm-,  2,  3. 
function  of,  3. 
sheath-,  2,  3. 
Nowodworskya  Presl,  109. 

Oat,  121. 

Obsolete.      An    organ    which    is 

suppressed  or  not  developed. 
Ochlandra  Thwaites,  202,  211. 
(Edipachne  Link,  74. 
Olyra  L.,  72,  84. 
Oncea  Frauch.  &  Sav.,  157. 
Ophiurus  Giirtn.,  53. 

tows  Beuth.,  53. 
Opizia  Presl,  128.  135. 

stolonifera  Presl,  135. 
Oplismenus  Beauv.,  71,  78. 
Orchard-grass,  161. 
Orcuttia  Vasey,  136,  147. 

Californica  Vasey,  147. 
Oreochloa  Link,  137,  148 

disticha  Link,  148.  [148. 

Pedemontaua  Boiss.  et  Rent., 
Organs  of  reproduction,  15. 
Orniothocephalochloa  Kurz.,  83. 
Oropetium  Trin.,  170,  174. 

Thomaeum  Trin.,  174. 
Ortfichne  Nees,  100. 
Orthoclada  Beauv.,  141,  158. 

raritiora  Beauv.,  158. 
Orthopogon  Brown,  78. 
Orthoraphium  Nees,  102. 
OryzaZ.,  86,  88. 

sativa  L..  89. 
ORYZE^,  35,  85. 
Oryzopsis  MX.,  95,  102. 
Osterdttmia  Neck. ,  67. 
Otachyriiim  Nees,  76. 
Ovary.     That  part   of    the   pistil 

containing  the  ovules. 
Ovule,    Ovulum.     The  immature 

seed.     18. 

Oxyanthe  Steud..  81. 
Gxydenia  Nutt.,  134. 
Oxytenanthera  Munro,  201,  208. 

Abyssinica  Munro,  208. 

Padia  Zolling.  &  Mor.,  88. 

Palea  or  Palet.  The  usually  two- 
keeled  bract  standing  opposite 
the  flowering  glume,  1,  11. 


Pampas-grass,  149. 
Panicastrella  Monch,  147. 
PANICE^E,  35,  70. 
Panicle,  10. 
Panicum  L.,  71,  74. 

altissimum  Jacq.,  76. 

Crus-galli  L.,  76. 

f rumen taceum  Roxb.,  76. 

junceum  Nees,  76. 
jumentorum  Pers,,  76. 

miliaceum  L.,  76. 

plicatum  Lam.,  76. 

sanguinale  L.,  74. 

spectabile  Nees,  76. 
Pantathera  Philippi,  169. 
Papillate.     Covered  with  minute 

nipple-like  projections. 
Pappophorese  (sub-tribe),  145. 
Pappophorum  Schreb.,  135,  145. 
Paratheria  Griseb. ,  82. 
Pariana  AubL,  172.  192. 
Parianese  (sub-tribe),  192. 
Parenchyma.     The   soft    cellular 
tissue  which  forms  the  pith  of 
stems,  pulp  of  leaves,  etc. 
Paspalum  L.,  70,  72. 

dilatatum  Poir.,  72 

distichum  L.,  73,  129. 

exile  Kipp. ,  73. 

notatum  Flugge,  73. 

platycaule  Poir.,  73. 

scrobiculatum  L.,  73. 
Pearl  Maize,  40. 
Pearl  Millet,  81. 
Pechea  Pourret,  105. 
Pectinate.     Finely  cleft  so  as  to 

resemble  the  teeth  of  a  comb. 
Pedicel.     The  ultimate  branch  of 
an    inflorescence    supporting  a 
spikelet. 
Pedicellate.     A  spikelet  supported 

on  a  distinct  pedicel. 
Peltophorus  Desv.,  53. 
Pendent.     Hanging  down. 
Penicillaria  Willd..  81. 
spicata,  Willd.,  81. 
Pennisetum  Pers.,  71,  80. 

Japonicum  Trin.,  82. 

latifolium  Spr.,  81. 

longistylum,  81. 

Prieurii  Kunth,  80. 

typhoideum  Rich.,  81. 

villosuna  Brown,  81. 
Pentacraspedon  Steud  ,  100. 
Pentameris  Beauv.,  125. 
Pentapogon  Brown,  98,  114. 

Billardieri  Brown,  114. 
Pentarrhaphis  Kunth,  211. 
Perfect.     Said  of  flowers  which 
contain  both  stamens  and  pistils. 


224 


INDEX  AND  GLOSSARY  OF  TERMS. 


Pergamentaceous.  Parchment-like 

in  texture. 
Periballia  Trin.,  119. 
Pericarp.     The  outer  covering  of 

the  grain. 

Perieilema  Presl,  96,  104. 
Perobachne  Presl,  63. 
Perotis  Ait.,  65,  67. 
Persistent.      Remaining  attached 
beyond  the  time  when  similar 
organs  fall    off.     (Opposite    of 
deciduous.) 
Pelroensa,  154 
Peyritschia  Fourn.,  120. 
Phacelurus  Griseb.,  54. 
Phsenospenna  Munro,  68,  69. 

globosa  Munro,  69. 
PHALARIDE^;,  35,  91. 
Ptialaridium  Nees,  153. 
PhalarisZ.,  92. 

arundinaceaZ.,  93. 

canariensis  L.,  93. 

minor  L.,  93. 
Phalona  Adans.,  162. 
Pharus  L.,  85,  87. 
Phippsia  Brown,  97,  108. 

algidatfr.,  108. 
Phleum  L.,  97,  106. 

Bo3hmeri  Wib.,  106. 

pratense  L.,  106. 
Pholiurus  Trin.,  175. 
Phragmites  Trin.,  136,  151. 

communis  Trin.,  151. 

cretaceus  Le»q.,  136,  151. 

Ungeri  Stur.,  151. 
Phyllorachis  Trimen;  72,  83. 

sagittata  Trimen,  83. 
Phyllostachys  Sieb.  et  Z.,  200,  203. 
Piptatherum  Beauv.,  102. 
Piptochaetium  Presl,  96,  102. 
Pistil,  16. 
Pistillate.     Said  of  flowers  which 

have  pistils  but  not  stamens. 
Placenta.     The  part  of  the  peri- 
carp to  which  the  seed  is  at- 


Plagiolytrum  Nees,  132. 
Plagiosetum  Benth.,  71,  82. 

refractum  Benth.,  82. 
Plauotia  Munro,  200,  204. 

nobilis  Munro,  204. 
Platonia  Kunth,  204. 
Platy stocky  a,  154. 
Pleopogon  Nutt.,  104. 
Pleuraphis  Torr.,  65. 
Pleuroplitid  Trin.,  57. 
Pleuroppgon  Brown,  142,  159. 

Sabini  Brown,  159. 
Plicate.     Plaited  or  folded  like  a 
fan. 


Plumose.     Feather-like. 
Plumule.   The  bud  in  the  embryo. 
Poa  L. ,  144,  163. 

alpina  L.,  164. 

Chilensis  Trin.,  164. 

flabellatalfoo/fc./.,  164. 

lanuginosa  Poir.,  164. 

Persica  Trin.,  163. 

pratensis  Z/..  164. 

trivialis  L.,  164. 
Podophorus  Philippi,  96,  104. 

bromoides  Ph.,  104. 
Podos(emumi)esv.,  103. 
Pcecilostachys  Hackel,  141,  158. 

geminata  Hackel,  158. 

Hildebrandtii  Hackel,  158. 
Pogouatherum  Beauv. ,  44,  52. 

Saccharoideum  Beauv.,  52. 
Poidium  Nees,  164. 
Polish  Wheat,  185. 
Pollination,  17. 
Pollinia  Trin.,  45,  51. 
Polyantherix  Nees,  192. 
Polyodon  Kunth,  132. 
Polypogou  Desf.,  98,  109. 

maritimus  Willd.,  110. 

Monspelieusislteif.,  109. 
Polyraphis  Liudl.,  145 
Polyschistis  Presl,  211. 
Polytoca  Brown,  42. 

macrophylla  BentJi.,  43. 
Polytrias  Hack.,  44,  52. 

prsemorsa  Hack.,  52. 
Pommereulla  L.fll.,  136,  146. 

Cornucopias  L.f.,  146. 
Potamochloa  Griff.,  90. 
Potamophila  Brown,  86,  88. 

parviflora  Brown,  88. 
Priouachue  Nees,  115,  117. 

dentata  Nees,  117. 
Prionanthium  Desv.,  117. 
Produced.     Extended  or  length- 
ened out.     Prolonged. 
Prophylla.    Primary  leaves,  as  the 
first  leaves  of  a  branch  or  axis 
(Gray). 

Proterogynous.  Applied  to  flow- 
ers in  which  the  pistils  reach 
maturity  in  advance  of  the  sta- 
mens. 

Protoplasm.  The  living  forma- 
tive material  of  plants  (and  ani- 
mals). 

Psamma  Beauv.,  112. 
Pseudostachyum  Munro,  201,  209. 

polymorphum  Munro,  210. 
Ptilathera  Link,  148. 
Pttilopoyon  Hochst.,  57. 
Psilostachys  Steud.,  47. 
Psilurus  Trin.,  171,  175. 


INDEX  AND  GLOSSARY  OF  TERMS. 


225 


Psilurus  nardoides  Trin.,  175. 
Pterium  Desv.,  163. 
Ptvrygostachyum  Nees,  47. 
Ptilagrostis  Griseb.,  102. 
Ptiloneilema  Steud.,  132. 
PuccinelliaPaTl,  165. 
Puelia  Franchet,  201,  208. 

ciliata  Franch.,  209. 
Puuctiform.     Like    an    indented 

point  or  dot. 
Pungent.     Terminating  in  a  sharp 

and  rigid  point. 
Pyramidal.      Tapering     upwards 

from  a  broad  base.     Pyramid- 


Quaking-grass,  160. 

Rabdochloa  Beauv.,  134. 
Raceme,  10. 

Rachilla  (or  rhachilla).     The  axis 
of    a    spikelet    to    which    the 
glumes  are  attached. 
Rachis  (or  rhachis).     The  axis  of 

a  panicle,  raceme,  or  spike. 
Raddia  Bertol,  84. 
Radicle.     Belonging  to,  or  grow- 
ing immediately  from,  the  root. 
Radix  Anatheri,  61. 

Vetverise,61. 
Randall  grass,  123. 
Raphis  Lour.,  61. 
Rdspalui  Presl,  109. 
Ratzeburgia  Kunth,  45,  52. 

pulcherrima  Kunth,  52. 
Reana  Brign.,  37. 
RebouUa  Kunth,  155. 
Redtieldia  Vasey,  138,  153. 

flexuosa  Vasey,  153. 
Red-top,  111. 
Reimaria  Fliigge,  70,  72. 

oligostachya  Munro,  72. 
RelcJiekt  Steud.,  112. 
Reticulate.     Netted,    or   marked 
with  lines  resembling  net-work. 
Rettbergia  Raddi.  204. 
Reynaudia  Kunth,  86,  90. 

filiformisTiLMtt.^,  90. 
Rhinachne  Hochst.,  55. 
Rhizocephalus  Boiss.,  105. 
Rhizome.     A  prostrate  or  under- 
ground root-like  stem. 
Rhombolytrum  Link,  152. 
Rhynchelytrum  Nees,  77. 
Rhytachne  Desv.,  46,  54. 
Rice,  89. 

Ripidium  Trin.,  51. 
Roegneria  C.  Koch,  177. 
Rcemeria  Zea,  157. 
Root-stalk.     Same  as  rhizome. 


Rottbffillia  L.,  45.  52. 

eiliata  Nutt.,  56. 
Rottbcellieae  (sub-tribe),  52. 
Rugose.     Wrinkled. 
Rye,  177. 

Giant,  186. 

Saccharese,  (sub- tribe),  49. 
Saccharum  L.,  45,  49. 

officinarum  L.,  48,  50. 
spontaneum  L.,  50,  55. 
Sand-reed,  113. 
Santia  Savi,  109. 
Savastana  Schrad.,  94. 
Schaffnera  Benth.,  65,  67. 
Mexicanatfentfi.,  67. 
Schedonnardus  Steud.,  125,  131. 

Texanus  Steud.,  131. 
ScJiedonorus  elatior  P.  B.,  166. 
Schellingia  Steud.,  66. 
Schismus  Beauv.,  163. 
8chista.chne  Fig.  et  De  Not.,  101. 
Scliizachyrium  Nees,  57. 
Schizostachyum  Nees,  202,  210. 
Schmidtia  Steud.,  135,  145. 
SchmidtiaTmttm.,  107. 
Schoenefeldia  Kunth,  126,  129. 
SchultesiaSpm^.,  130. 
Sclerachne  Torr.,  110. 
Sclerachne  R  Br.,  37,  43. 

punctatatf.  Br.,43. 
Schlerenchyma.      Fibrous    tissue 
composed  of  hard,  thick-walled 
cells. 
Sclerochloa  #<?«?«>.,  144,  163. 

dura  Beauv.,  163. 
Scleropoa  Griseb.,  144,  167. 

rigida  Griseb.,  167. 
Scleropogon  PUlippi,  136,  146. 
Scolochloa  Mert.  &  Koch,  150.   • 
Scolochloa  Link.  143,  164. 
festucacea  Link,  165. 
spiculosa  Schm. ,  165. 
Scribneria  Hack. ,  171.  175. 
Bolanderi  Hack.,  175. 
Scutellum.     The   usually   shield- 
shaped  portion  of  the  embryo 
regarded  as  the  cotyledon  ;    its 
inner  face  lies  against  the  albu- 
men, while  in  its  somewhat  con- 
cave outer  side  rest  the  plumule 
and  the  radicle  (hypocotyl)  to 
which  it  is  attached'     21. 
Secale  L.,  171,  177. 
cereale  L.,  177. 
fragile  Bub..  177. 
montanum  Guss.,  177. 
Secund.     Turned  to  one  side,  one- 
sided. 
Sehima  Forsk.,  55. 


226 


INDEX  AND  GLOSSARY  OF  TERMS 


Senites  Adans.,  158. 

Sericura  Hassk.,  82. 

SerrafalcusP&rl.,  168. 

Sesleria  Scop.,  137,  148. 
cserulea  Ard.,  148. 

Seslerieae  (sub-tribe),  146. 

Sessile.  Devoid  of  a  pedicel  or 
stalk. 

Setaria  Beauv.,  71,  78. 
glauca  Beauv.,  78. 
Italica  Beauv.,  78. 
viridis#e«m>.,  78. 

Setiforui.     Bristle-like. 

Sheath.  Applied  to  the  tubular 
or  convolute  portion  of  the  leaf, 
between  the  leaf-blade  and  its 
point  of  insertion,  which  in- 
closes or  embraces  the  culin.  6. 

Sheath,  function  of,  3,  6. 

Sheath-nodes,  2. 

Sheep's  Fescue,  166. 

Sieglingia  Bernh. .  152. 

Sitanion  Rafin.,  192 

Solenachne  Steud  ,129.     • 

Solitary.     Standing  alone. 

Sorghum  Pers. ,  58 

cernmim  Host  ,  59. 
pauciflorum,  61. 
saccharatum  Pers.,  59. 

Sphenopus  Trin.,  140,  156. 
Gouani  Trin.,  156. 

SpinifexZ.,  72,  83. 

Sp:irtiua  Schreb.,  125,  129. 
stricta  Both,  129. 

Spelt,  182. 

Spike.  An  inflorescence  in  which 
the  spikelets  are  sessile  on  the 
main  axis.  10. 

Spikelet.  A  secondary  spike,  or 
in  grasses  a  special  inflorescence 
consisting  of  a  more  or  less 
elongated  axis  (the  rachilla)  and 
two-ranked  imbricated  glumes 
in  the  axils  of  some  of  which 
the  flowers  are  borne.  11. 

Spikelet,  diagrams  of.     12. 

Spikelets,  succession  of  flowering 
of  in  a  given  inflorescence.  15. 

Spinescent.  Furnished  with  spines. 

Spodiopogon  Trin.,  45,  52. 

Sporobolus  Brown,  97,  109. 
cryptaudrus  Gray,  109. 
pungeiis  Kunih,  109. 

Stamens,  15. 

Staminodia.  Rudimentary  or  im- 
perfectly developed  stamens. 

Starch-grains,  26. 

Stegosia  Lour.,  52. 

Stemmatospermum  Beauv. ,  204. 

Stenobromus  (sub-gen.),  168. 


Stenochloa  Nutt.,  153. 
Stenotaphrum  Trin.,  72,  82. 

Americauum  Schrauk,  82,  83. 
Sterile    bracts.     Same    as   sterile 

glumes. 
Stipa  L.,  95,  101. 

capillata  L.,  101. 

inebrians  Hance,  102. 

peunata  L.,  101. 

Sibirica  Lam.,  102. 

spartea  Trin.,  101. 

tenacissima  L.,  91, 101. 

tirsa  Stev.,  101. 

viridula  Trin.,  102. 
Stipagrostis  Nees,  101. 
Strebloclutte  Hochst.,  125. 
Strephium  Schrad.,  84. 
Streptachne  Brown,  102. 
Streptachne  Kunth,  100. 
Streptochseta  Schrad.,  86,  91. 
Streptogyue  Beauv.,  141,  158. 

criuita  Link,  158. 
Streptostachys  Desv.,  76. 
Slurmia  Hoppe,  107. 
Suardia  Schkr.,  68. 
Subulate.     Awl-shaped. 
Sugar  Cane,  50. 
Sugar  Maize,  40. 
Sulcate.     Grooved  or  furrowed. 
Sweet  vernal-grass,  94. 
Syntherisma  Walt.,  74. 

Tabasheer,  199. 

Teiuostachyum  Munro,  201,  210. 
Teosinte,  38. 
Terete.     Cylindrical. 
Tetrachne  Nees,  127,  133. 

Dregei  Nees,  133. 
Tetrapogon-Des/.,  127,  132. 
Tetrarrhena  Brown,  92. 
Thamnocalnmus  Munro,  202. 
Thelepogon  Roth,  46,  55. 

elegaus  Roth,  55. 
Themeda  .For**.,  47,  63. 

Forekalii  fioci.,  «a 
Thuarea  Pers.,  72,  83. 

sarmentosa  Pers.,  83. 
Thurberia  Benlh.,  98,  110. 

Arkansana,  110. 

pilosa,  110. 
Thrasya  Kuutli,  75. 
Thyridostachyum  Nees,  53. 
Tl<yrso«tachys  \\i\c\i.,  53. 
Thysanachne  Presl,  68. 
Thysauolseua  Nees,  68,  69. 

acarifera  Nees,  69. 
Tialva,  59. 
Timothy,  106. 
Tinaa  Garxia,  163. 
Torresia  Ruiz  &  Pav.,  94. 


INDEX  AND  GLOSSARY  OF  TERMS 


227 


Tosagris  Beauv.,  103. 
Tozettia  Savi,  107. 
Trachynia  Link,  170. 
Trachynotia  MX.,  129. 
Trachyozus  Reichb.,  65. 
Trachypogon  Nees,  47.  56. 

polymorphus  Hack. ,  56. 
Trachys  Pers.,  64,  65. 

mucronata  Pers.,  65. 
Trachystachys  Deitr.,  65. 
Tragus  Hall,  64,  66. 
Trmna  Kunth,  132. 
Triachyrium  Hochst.,  109. 
Triathera  Desv.,  132. 
Trichachne  Nees,  75. 
Triclueta  Beauv.,  121. 
Trichloris  Fourn.,  126,  130. 

Blanchardiana  Hack.,  130. 
Trichochtoa  Beauv.,  103. 
Trichodium  Sclirad.,  111. 
Tricholseua  Schrad.,  71,  77. 

rosea  Nees,  77. 
Trichoneura  Anderss.,  153. 
Trichopteryx  Nees,  117,  124. 
Tricuspis  Beauv.,  152. 
Tridens  R.  &  S.,  152. 
Triglossum  Fisch.,  202. 
Triniusa  Steud. ,  168. 
Triodia  Brown,  138,  152. 

albescens  Munro,  152. 

Cunninghamii  R.  Br.,  152. 

cuprea  Jacq.,  153. 

decumbens  Beauv.,  152 

filiformis  Nees,  152. 

irritans  Brown,  152. 

Mitchelli  Brown,  152. 

pungens  Brown,  152. 
Triplachne  Link,  100,  111. 

niteiis  Link,  112. 
Triplasis  Beauv.,  153. 
Triplathera  Endl.,  132. 
Tripogon  Roth,  127,  132. 
Tripsacum  L..  37,  41. 

dactyloides  Z.,  42. 
Triraphis  Brown,  136,  146. 
Triscenia  Griseb.,  68,  69. 

ovina  Griseb.,  69. 
Trisetaria  ForsA;.,  98,  113. 

liuearis  Forsk.,  114. 

quin queseta  Hochst.,  114. 
Trisetum  Pew.,  116,  120. 

pratense  Pers.,  121. 

subspicatum  Beauv.,  121. 
rnswtoRafin.,  159. 
Tristachya  Nees,  117,  124. 
THISTEGINE^E,  35,  68. 
Tristegu  Nees,  68. 
Triticeae  (sub-tribe),  176. 
Triticum  L..  171,  179. 

Bceboticum  Boiss. ,  180. 


Triticum  compactum  Host.,  184. 

conipositum,  185. 

cristatuna  Schreb.,  177. 

dicoccum  Schrank,  182. 

durum  Desf.,  185. 

mouococcum  L.,  180, 

PolouicumZ.,  180,  185. 

repens  L.,  176. 

sativum  Lam.,  180,  181. 

sativum     compactum,      183, 
184. 

sativum  dicoccum,  181,  182. 

sativum  durum,  183,  185. 

sativum  Spelta,  181.  182. 

sativum  tenax,  181,  182. 

sativum  turgidum,  183,  184. 

sativum  vulgare,  183. 

Spelta  L.,  182. 

turgidum  L. ,  184. 
Troc/ieraRick.,  92. 
Truncate.     Ending  abruptly,  as  if 

cut  off. 
Tuberculate.    Covered  with,  rough 

points  or  tubercles. 
Turbiuate.     Top-shaped. 
Tussock-grass,  164. 
TylothrasyaDo\\.,  75. 

Umbellate.      In  the  form  of  an 

umbel. 
Unilateral.     One-sided.     A  spike 

is  unilateral  when  the  spikelets 

all  grow  from  or  are  turned  to 

one  side  of  the  axis. 
Uniola  L.,  142,  159. 
latifolia  L.,  159. 
Unisexual.      Flowers  of  one  sex, 

having  stamens  only  or  pistils 

only. 

Urachne  Trin.,  102. 
UralepisTXult.,  153 
Urelytrum  Hack.,  46,  54. 
Urochlsena  Nees,  137,  147. 

pusilla  Nees,  148. 
Urochloa  Kunth,  75. 
Utricle.  A  grain  or  one-seeded 

fruit  with  a  loose  bladder-like 

pericap. 

Vahlodea  Fries.  120. 
Vanilla  grass  ,  94. 
Vaseya  Thurb.,  103. 
Ventenata.flr^r.,  116,  121. 

avenacea  Kolr. ,  121. 
Vetiveria  Virey,  59. 
Vetivert,  61. 
Vetives,  61. 
Vilfa  Beauv.,  109. 
Vossia  Wall.  &  Griff.,  46.  54. 

procera  Wall.  &  Griff.,  54. 
Vulpia  Gmelin,  166. 


228 


INDEX  AND   GLOSSARY  OF  TERMS. 


Weinga>rtneria  Bernh.,  119. 
Waugenheimia  Monch,  142,  161. 

disticha  Monch,  161. 
Wheat  (see  Trittcum),  183. 

Egyptian,  185. 

Polish,  185. 

Whorl.  The  arrangement  of 
organs  in  a  circle  around  an 
axis. 

Wilhelmsia  C.  Koch,  155. 
Windsoria  Nutt.,  152. 
Witch-grass,  176. 

Xerochloa  Brown,  72,  82. 
Xy&tidium  Trin.,  67. 


Zea  L.,  36,  38. 

Mays  L.,  38. 

Zeobrouius  (sub-gen.),  168. 
Zankeria  Trin.,  115,  118. 
Zeocriton  Beauv.,  188. 
Zeugites  Schreb.,  158. 
Zizania  L.,  86,  88. 

aquatica  L.,  88. 

latifolia  Turcz.,  88. 

miliacea  MX.,  88. 

palustris  Link,  88. 
Zizaniopsia  ZW«.,  86,  87. 

miliacea  Doll.  &  AscJi. , 
Zoysia  Wittd.,  65,  67. 
ZOYSIE^S,  34,  64. 


Ok 

^ 

6-7if   H 


THE  LIBRARY 
UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 

Santa  Barbara 


THIS  BOOK  IS  DUE  ON  THE  LAST  DATE 
STAMPED  BELOW. 


50m-9,'6G(G633888)  9-182 


